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\ / WHAT JESUS DID! -- http://www.heartlight.org/
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Sunday, December 21, 2008
Final Goodbye?
Joseph bought some linen cloth. Joseph took the body {from
the cross} and wrapped the body in the linen. Then Joseph put
the body in a tomb (grave) that was dug in a wall of rock.
Then Joseph closed the tomb by rolling a large stone to cover
the entrance.
-- Mark 15:46 (ERV)
KEY THOUGHT:
I can only imagine what this experience must have meant to Joseph. Was
it filled with regret for not having been more open about his
allegiance to Jesus? Was it filled with deep sorrow for what he felt
was lost? Was it filled with anger at seeing the body of Jesus in its
abused, torn, and punctured condition? Was it a sense of finality that
all had been lost and all hopes dashed with his death? As he placed
Jesus in this fresh grave, did he hear a brief echo of a promised
resurrection that stirred his hopes? As he walked away from the tomb,
the stone set in its place at the entrance, did he give up hope
altogether -- in resentment of his cherished Jewish heritage that had
brought about this moment and in disillusionment with his faith in
Jesus who was now dead? We look at the crucifixion on this side of
Jesus' triumphant resurrection. Even when we celebrate the Lord's
Supper and remember the death of Jesus, we do so on this side of his
triumph and we do so on Sunday, the day of his victory. It is only when
one we love comes to the end of this life that we can begin to
understand the weight of Joseph's pain and grief. But even then, we can
be thankful that Joseph's painful task was done in preparation for the
glorious Sunday when Jesus rose from the dead and changed everything.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Hallelujah, God Almighty. You have taken death and defeated it through
the work of your Son and my Savior Jesus. Thank you. I praise you in
the name of my risen Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
>> NEW: Phil's What Jesus Did devotional is now
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http://images.ultracart.com/aff/ACU9/1414/108/185/575/0/index.html
>> The WJD! web page has related scriptures and the
>> full text of today's key passage. Read it at:
http://www.heartlight.org/wjd/mark/1221-wjd.html
>> For further study of today's passage, use our
>> online Bible study site: SearchGodsWord.org!
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Mark+15:46&sr=1&t=erv
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