Left Alone in the Dark Tomb

Golgatha - Place of the Skull

Jerusalem today

Though He (Jesus) was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form, He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross. Philippians 2:6-8

As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who had become a follower of Jesus, went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth. He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left. Matthew 27:57-60

Jesus had gone to the Cross—humbly obedient to the end. Died—as darkness engulfed the land. His body was removed from the Cross and placed in the new tomb of one of His followers. There was no smell of death in that tomb—only fresh clean rock and dirt. Now His body was left in the darkness…alone. His disciples scattered—probably fearing for their own lives. If the Romans would execute their teacher, their Messiah—then would they do the same to them? Darkness…loneliness. When we die our spirit and soul separate from our body. Jesus body was left in the darkness.  So where was His spirit? His last words were…

…"Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.' (from Psalm 31:5)" Having said this, He breathed His last. Luke 23:46 NKJV.

Jesus gave His spirit into the loving care of His Heaven Father. It was finished. His work on earth was done…completed.

The Apostles’ Creed tells us that after His burial, He descended to the dead. (See Ephesians 4:9-10.)

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

He was no longer in a dark tomb. Remember that Jesus IS the LIGHT of the world. While He was living on earth …

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life." John 8:12

Garden Tomb - Jerusalem

Just because He died He did not become darkness. The tomb was dark…and His body was in the tomb—but His spirit was released—and the light of His spirit shone wherever He went.

Prayer ~ Jesus, shine into our hearts and lives today. In the Sermon on the Mount, You told the people that they are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, people should let their good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise our heavenly Father. Matthew 5:14-16. We praise You, Jesus, for You light up our lives. No dark, lonely tombs here.

Daily Bible Reading: Psalm 7, 27, 31, 34, 52

© 2017 Text and photo by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

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