Our Stone-Cold Jesus

The disciples thoughts on Saturday: "What on earth can we do now? Things looked so promising. Jesus healed the sick and gave the blind their sight back. He cast out demons and turned water into wine. He fed thousands of people with just a little bit of food. He even walked on water."

"And beyond that, Jesus raised people to life after they had passed! Who can stop such a person? What on earth could possibly get in the way of such power? And yet, Jesus never claimed to have power. He was always giving credit to God, who He referred to as Abba Father."

"Oh…what difference a day makes! He is dead now. All seems lost with nowhere to turn. Where are You, God? Have You abandoned us? I was so sure I was called to be a disciple of Jesus. I was so sure that God wanted me to follow in His footsteps. Now, it seems utterly useless. The light in my life has been snuffed out. My purpose for living has been snatched from me."

On this day, over two thousand years ago, Jesus’ cold, dead body lay in a tomb. Outside of the tomb hid His disciples, who were uncertain as to what their next move should be. In fact, the room where they hid became a dark tomb for them.

They were paralyzed by the event of Good Friday. The passion that was once burning so strong within them was gone. Perhaps you can relate. What has happened to your passion?

As Christians, like the disciples, we start full of passion and zeal. But somewhere along the way, we find ourselves drained, lost and alone. Is there a tomb in your life? What is it that keeps you from living passionately for Jesus? What fears keep you in hiding…tucked away from the purpose Christ has given you?

On this Holy Saturday, may we take time to consider all the things that keep us from our identity in Jesus Christ. Here’s the good news – this is Saturday. He really isn’t dead, though we are living the story today.

Know that Christ is not dead in your life. In fact, Christ has never been more alive. Hold on, my child, joy comes in the morning. Our resurrected Lord can not be held in the tomb much longer. In Christ there is resurrection. Even the darkest of tombs cannot prevent the light of Christ’s resurrection from bursting forth in all of its glory.

We should be getting our dancing shoes on and our victory voices in tune, because we know that on Easter, like the song says, "Ain’t no grave gonna' hold Jesus’ body down and ain’t no grave gonna’ hold our lives down." Are you ready to rise from your tomb? Jesus paid the price for His resurrection, the disciples' resurrection AND our resurrections, too!