Let It Be Me!

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So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. (This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. He speaks the truth so that you also can believe.) These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, “Not one of his bones will be broken,”  and “They will look on the one they pierced.”

Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away. With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth. The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before.

John 19:32-41

The day before the Resurrection and the day after the Crucifixion was indeed a day of despair. There is no record of anyone, including the disciples of Jesus being filled with hope as they waited for Jesus to come forth from the grave. They did not expect it and even when they saw the empty tomb, the first response was to believe that someone had stolen His body!

That day was a Passover and should have been a time of celebration and hope. Jesus had told His disciples what would happen, but apparently none of them remembered His words and hoped for the resurrection.

Today is also a dark day on earth. There are wars and rumors of wars. There are famines and earthquakes. There are terrible storms and the fear of great waves washing over the land. There is the almost certain prospect of a terrible economic earthquake. Unless God Himself intervenes in the affairs of men there truly is no hope for the world to move on to better times.

But there is the greatest hope. Just as Jesus promised He came back from the dead and rose from the grave. And just as Jesus promised He will come back to this earth and gather His people to be with Him forever!

"Lord, if there is only one person expecting Your return today, let that person be me! Fill me with the hope of Your return and the courage to proclaim Your name to everyone I encounter this day. Come quickly, Lord Jesus! Amen"