TRULY DEAD AND BURIED
Carey Madding
Today's Scripture: “And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.” Matthew 29:59-60, ESV
Theme: Make no mistake, Jesus was both dead and buried.
(Note: This devotion deals with death and dying; if that is painful for you at this time, it’s okay to pass.)
“MOSTLY DEAD”
“The Princess Bride” came out in 1987 and my young children fell in love with the movie. At a crucial point, Miracle Max is called on to revive Westly, the hero, who is gravely injured and appears dead. Yet Max declares him to be “only mostly dead,” adding that “mostly dead is slightly alive.”
After our dear friend died, I kept telling Mike that I just could not believe John was really dead. Finally, Mike said, “Carey, we both sat with his body for hours in the emergency room. We watched him grow cold and grey. I know for a fact that he is dead and gone. I am never surprised by that.” When my mother passed away a few years ago, I understood. We sat with her body until the hospice nurse came and left, then the hearse came to take her away. Over those hours, it did sink in—her body was no longer warm and living.
CONFIRMED DEAD
Mark tells us that when Joseph went to ask Pilate for permission to claim the body of Jesus, Pilate was surprised. (Crucifixions usually took much longer to kill their victims.) So, Pilate asked the centurion who oversaw the executions to confirm Jesus’ death. “And when he [Pilate] learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph” (Mark 15:45, ESV). This was the same centurion who had earlier declared, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39b, ESV). He saw Jesus take His last breath. He was experienced with these executions, and he would have faced severe punishment if his prisoner escaped death.
Also confirming His death was Joseph, who personally took Christ’s broken body down from the cross (according to Mark and Luke), wrapped Him in a clean linen shroud, and took Him to his own unused tomb. And the other women: “Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid” (Mark 15:47, NIV).
THE BELOVED
Just as Mike confirmed our friend John’s death, John the Apostle and “the Beloved” of Jesus confirms his dear Lord’s death: “He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe” (John 19:35, ESV). John saw they did not break Jesus’ legs, because He was already dead. John saw the soldiers pierce His side, just to be absolutely sure He was dead. John was there; he waited. And he wants all who were not there to know the truth.
THE TOMB
Matthew tells us that the Jewish leaders were afraid of a hoax, so they requested a guard. Pilate agreed and ordered them to make it as secure as they could. They put a seal on the tomb and a guard before it. That kept away mere men, but it couldn’t stop God. “And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men” (Matthew 28:2-4, ESV). Yes, Jesus was really sealed in a tomb and only released by the Resurrection power of God!
There is no way to logically explain the Resurrection other than as a miracle of God. Jesus was dead. Jesus was buried. His disciples were too afraid to stay at the cross, let alone confront the guard at the tomb. Still, some have suggested Jesus’ body might have been stolen, despite the guard. Chuck Colson wrote: “I know the Resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Every one was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren't true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world - and they couldn't keep a lie for three weeks. You're telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.”
Make It Personal: Jesus was dead. Now He is alive. Once you know Him, you will have all the proof you need. But until that time, take the proofs offered in the Gospels.
Pray: Lord God, thank You for Your death so that we can have life. Thank You for really, truly entering death and the tomb, ripping them wide open so that they have no power over us. You are the Resurrection and the Life and I worship You. Amen.
Read: Mark 15: 22-39, 42-44; John 19:31-37
Weekly Memory Verse: “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4, ESV