THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 15:42-47
Joseph… waiting for the kingdom of God… rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.” (Mark 15:43,46)
There have been many times when I have had my hopes dashed.
Anticipating something good, or praying desperately for a miracle!
Joseph had to roll the stone over his hopes for the kingdom of God.
It looked so promising, everything was coming together, God was finally showing up.
And then it crashes, whatever you were hoping for does not happen, your hope begins to die.
As far as Joseph, the two Mary’s, and other devoted Jesus followers were concerned, Jesus was dead.
Let down by hope, let down by God, they bury their hopes and dreams.
This happens often, and for many it leads to the death of faith as well.
Although we know what’s coming, we shouldn’t deny the grief of those who mourn.
You can say, ‘it’ll get better’ or ‘God has a plan’, but its hard to see past the stone wall of ‘not yet’.
The time between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is a gloomy time.
A time to sit with those who grieve, who mourn, who struggle with hope or despair.
They are burying their dreams, they are coming to terms with loss, defeat, shame or disappointment.
Sunday will come, but Saturday lies in between, and that is a part of the process.
“A time for everything… a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.” (Ecclesiastes 4:1,4)
“Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans 12:15)
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4)
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, the tears of today are not a denial of the joy of tomorrow, but a recognition of the real pain and loss we experience in this time before Your return. Come quickly Lord!
Observations/Application
Joseph was a Christ follower and also an important religious official who also had an ‘in’ with Pilate because he went to Pilate and asked for the body. This rich religious leader also had his hopes dashed like the disciples and the women who watched from afar. He placed Jesus in the new tomb and rolled the stone in place.
The end.
Many of those crucified would have been taken down and left on the ground for the birds to take care of the remains. But not Christ. Joseph did no small thing.
In our church service, the last thing before we dismissed quietly was that the Lord’s Supper elements were take from the table – trying to give the impression of the hopelessness we would have like Christ’s followers – no resurrection.
The end also for you and me.
The grave is the end as many people believe.
Why?
No hope.
But there is always ‘Sonday.”
1 Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Savior,
waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!
2 Vainly they watch his bed, Jesus my Savior,
vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord! [Refrain]