March to the Cross

Saturday, April 3 Jesus: The Buried King Focus: After Jesus died, he was taken from the cross and buried in Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb; all hope was lost for those who followed Christ.

Today’s verses: Romans 3:23; 6:23 For all have sinned…The wages of sin is death…

Luke 23:53 And he (Joseph) took (the body) down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock…

Psalm 22:1-3 My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; and by night, but I have no rest. Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.

Isaiah 53:10-11 But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; if He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; by His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, and He will bear their iniquities.

Psalm 30:5 …weeping may last for the night…

We have all heard the familiar phrase, "It is darkest before the dawn." The day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday was truly a dark and confusing time for Jesus followers. Their hope had died. We know what is coming in this story, but although they were told, everyone was full of immense sorrow, so much so that the words of his resurrection were muffled by the cries of their broken hearts.

If you were one of the women who had closely followed Jesus over the years of His ministry, what would have been your emotions as you sat outside the closed tomb where Jesus had been laid?

For further reading: Luke 23:47-56; Psalm 22:11-18

Dear Lord, Thank you for marching to the cross. You endured the darkest of the dark for us. We sit with you in this place, in this part of the story, but not without knowing that the Light overcomes. Yes, joy will come in the morning. Amen