Jesus is laid in the Tomb
Mark 15:46-47 (MSG) “Having already purchased a linen shroud, Joseph took him down, wrapped him in the shroud, placed him in a tomb that had been cut into the rock, and rolled a large stone across the opening. Mary Magdalene and Mary, mother of Joses, watched the burial.”
They watched him being buried. His body was wrapped with a cloth and spices. It was laid with care in the tomb. The stone scraped and rasped against the ground as it was shoved into place. Then, the final thud sealed the tomb forever. It was done. Death had the final say. The tomb won. Or so they thought.
All they had left was their sorrow. The sadness was overwhelming. The grief pushed on them like the weight of gravity finally stooping the shoulders of the old man who had always stood tall. All they could do was walk away and live with it. Or so they thought.
We all live with heartache. Some days are worse than others when one feels the weight of the world bearing down on one’s shoulders. Some are sitting with tremendous suffering today. Some are watching from a distance as a loved one copes with an unimaginable pain. All of creation is mourning. All we can do is learn how to manage. Or so we think.
Therefore, we wait in the dark. We keep vigil. We lie down in the tomb. And we think it is finished. Dark thoughts swirl through our minds. Life is ugly. Sin is having the final say. Darkness is overcoming the light. God’s not even here. God’s doesn’t want to get involved. God doesn’t care. I’m not worth loving. Life’s not worth living. Death won. Or so we think.
From Romans 8: “For we know that all creation groans in unison with birthing pains up until now. And there is more; it’s not just creation – all of us are groaning together too. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more then waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become. Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. He makes prayers out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans.”
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