Saturday, April 11, 2020
Scripture – John 19:38-42 (NIV)
38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.[a] 40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
Hold Your Breath!
by Lt. Colonel Diane O’Brien
This day between is strange for us. It is known by many different names – Holy Saturday, Great Sabbath, Black Saturday, Hallelujah Saturday, Joyous Saturday, Saturday of Light, Easter eve. Such a swing of emotions!
On this between day, disciples were devastated. They had lost the physical presence of their precious friend and teacher, Jesus, and in a most gruesome, painful way. We understand the deep grief of loss.
Nicodemus and Joseph, both probably influential members of the Sanhedrin, and both followers of Jesus, had provided the best they could and arranged for some dignity for Christ’s body. They wanted to do something for Jesus. In this time of sorrow, they gave their best. This passage says they even anointed and wrapped the body before they entombed Jesus
Mark and Luke both record that the women brought spices on the day after the Sabbath, when the visited the tomb. Surely they wanted to make sure everything was done correctly. Unable to do it because of Sabbath regulations, they were waiting to go to the body. How awful those waiting hours must have been! Probably the ladies did not rest much. They must have made sure they had all the supplies they might need and then perhaps they just sat together in grief, until they could do something to express their care.
But it really is different for us. We know what the dawn will bring. It’s as if our world is holding its breath between the agony and the victory. Our fragrant offering is not for burial, it is ready for the joy of the morning. We’re waiting for the music to start. Just wait until you see what is in store for you tomorrow!
Such Love
Salvation Army Songbook 199
1.
Such love pure as the whitest snow
Such love weeps for the shame I know
Such love paying the debt I owe
O Jesus such love
2.
Such love stilling my restlessness
Such love filling my emptiness
Such love showing me holiness
O Jesus such love
3.
Such love springs from eternity
Such love streaming through history
Such love fountain of life to me
O Jesus such love
Gram Kendrick
Commissioner Kenneth G. Hodder invites you to join him for worship on Easter Sunday at 7:00pm PDT.
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