HOLY SATURDAY

PROCLAMATION

“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.  Because it was the Jewish Day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.”  John 19:41-42 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

After Jesus, The Christ, said while hanging on the cross, ‘It is finished” (John 19:30) and “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit” (Luke 23:46) He bowed His head, gave up His spirit and died.  Because it was Preparation Day and the next day was the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies to be left on the crosses during the Sabbath.  When they found that Jesus was already dead, they did not break his legs. (John 19:31-33)  Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus and, accompanied by Nicodemus, they took the body away. (John 19:38-40)  They placed the body of Jesus in Joseph’s new unused tomb which had been carved out of stone. (Matthew 27:59-60) 

APPLICATION

With respect to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, The Christ, we know the events which happened on Good Friday and the events which occurred on Resurrection Sunday.  What is not clear is what happened on Saturday while the body of Jesus laid in the grave.  The Bible records that the apostle John, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God,  John  had a vision of Christ and was told to write down the things that he had seen during his out of body experience. (Revelation 1:10-19)  Jesus, The Christ, told John, “I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Revelation 1:18 (NIV)  I remember being taught that after He gave up His life on the cross, Jesus descended into hell and did something before He returned and rose early Sunday morning.  Jesus holds the keys to death and hell in His hands.  This speaks to the sovereignty, the power, and the authority of Christ over death and hell.  However, Jesus raised three individuals from death before He was crucified.  He raised Lazarus from the grave, (John 11:41-44) the synagogue leader’s daughter (Matthew 9:23-24) and the widow’s son. (Luke 7:11-15)  So, clearly Jesus had the power over death while He was alive on earth.  After He rose from the dead, He said that He has all power in heaven and earth. (Matthew 28:18)  I do not know what happen on that Holy Saturday but, as the song says, “We will understand it better, bye and bye.”  One day we will all be “… absent from the body …” and “… present with The Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8)  Until that day comes, I will pray, worship, and serve The Lord.

GREAT OBSTACLES FOR MAN ARE NO PROBLEM FOR GOD

Proclamation:

“When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when all the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city.”  Joshua 6:20 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of God which were written by Joshua under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  After they crossed the Jordan River, the Israelites proceeded to Jericho.  The walls of Jericho were a formidable obstacle. (Joshua 6:1)  However, Joshua listened to The Lord God, (Joshua 6:2-5) and he obeyed Him and the walls collapsed. (Joshua 6:6-20)   The Israelites entered the city and destroyed every living thing within the city (Joshua 6:21) except for Rahab and her family who were in her house. (Joshua 6:22-23)  Rahab’s house, which was built into part of the wall around the city, (Jericho 2:15) was left standing when the walls collapsed. (Joshua 6:22-23)

Application:

In our lives today, everything is not always smooth sailing.  At times we run into obstacles, or road blocks, or mountains too steep for us to climb.  Whatever the problem is that hinders us, it is not a problem for The Lord God.  He is omnipotent, and with Him all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26 and Mark 10:27)   We just need to pray, listen to The Lord, and then obey Him and do what He says for us to do.  If we believe in Him, and have faith in Him, He will take care of our obstacles.  Trust in The Lord, and He will give us something to shout about.

CHRIST JESUS HEALED THE SICK AND RAISED THE DEAD

Proclamation:

“And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years.  She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.  When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His cloak … immediately her bleeding stopped … He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you.  Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”  Mark 5:25-34 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Mark.  This is the gospel as he received it from the apostle Peter.  In this chapter Mark recounts the healing of the man possessed with many demons, (Mark 5:1-20) the healing of the woman with an issue of blood for twelve years, and the raising of the dead twelve year old daughter of Jairus, one of the synagogue leaders. (Mark 5:22-24 and 35-43)

Application:

Modern medicine is great.  Today, doctors can treat and cure a number of different diseases and conditions.  However, there are still a large number of diseases and disorders that they cannot cure or even diagnose.  Jesus, The Christ, has the power to cure any and everything. (Mark 3:10)  He is omnipotent and all power is given unto Him in heaven and in earth. (Matthew 28:18)  Just because He can does not mean that He will.  All too often the problem is our lack of faith in Him. (Mark 5:34)  It is also possible that the illnesses that we suffer are our punishment for our sins. (2 Corinthians 12:7)  We may also suffer because of the sins of our parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents. (Exodus 34:7, Numbers 14:18, and Deuteronomy 5:9)  He can bestow His grace on whomever He chooses.  So, believe in Him, ask to be healed, and have faith that it will happen.