Beyond the Tomb

Prayer – Lord, You felt rejected on the cross…At about three o'clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which means "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" Matthew 27:46. Thank you for promising that You will always be with us…and never leave or forsake us (John 14:18 and Matthew 28:20). Your ministry…Your mission extends well beyond the cross and the empty tomb. It continues on as You prepare a place for us in Heaven and fight against the powers of this world…for us. Thank You. May all that I think, say, and do bring You glory and honor…forever.

You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God's temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What's more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. As the Scriptures say, "I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced."  1 Peter 2:4-6

 

Meditate. Consider Jesus in the tomb for three days.

 

The Garden Tomb
Jerusalem, Israel

What did Jesus do while He was in that tomb for three days? He was dead. I’ve heard it conjectured that Jesus visited shoal or Hades and preached to those there who had not heard of Him—so that the prophecy that everyone in the world would know about Jesus would be fulfilled. At any rate, Jesus did not rot in the grave, as was declared in Acts as promised in Psalm 16:10.

"And now we are here to bring you this Good News. The promise was made to our ancestors, and God has now fulfilled it for us, their descendants, by raising Jesus. This is what the second psalm says about Jesus: 'You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.' For God had promised to raise him from the dead, not leaving him to rot in the grave. He said, 'I will give you the sacred blessings I promised to David.' Another psalm explains it more fully: 'You will not allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.' Acts 13:32-35

In his commentary of this passage, Matthew Henry noted that raising Jesus from the dead, not only was a promise fulfilled, but it acknowledged that Jesus is the Son of God. In raising Jesus from the dead God was declaring Jesus as a prophet at His baptism, a priest to make atonement over His death, and a king to rule over His ascension. One day we will serve as kings and priests for Jesus and God the Father.

This letter is from John to the seven churches in the province of Asia. Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come; from the sevenfold Spirit before his throne; and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world. All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. Revelation 1:4-6

Can you imagine being part of a Kingdom of priests for God? In the passage today found in First Peter, we are living stones as part of God’s spiritual temple and we are His holy priests. What are you doing today to prepare to be a priest for God? Rely on and trust in Jesus and the Holy Spirit to guide you. Look beyond the tomb.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance--an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. 1 Peter 1:3-5

 

© 2023 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

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

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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