Something Had to Die | The Easter Week Series
Elizabeth Moore
Today, Jesus’ body is dead. Like, all day long. His earthly shell is wrapped in a clean, linen shroud and his dead weight is laid in a stone, cold tomb. His body feels no pain, no emotions, no sensations. Dead, lifeless, still.
I’m not sure how to reconcile this. It’s not easy to weave words into a day that’s penetrated by silence.
I’m not sure what to say except this--something had to die.
That's the excruciating reality of sin: as long as it exists, things die.
That's why today is necessary. Because death is necessary. For life to even be an option, something has to die. It was true in the Old Testament, when the Hebrew people had to sacrifice all the things, all the time. And it's true now. Eternal life is not without a high cost.
I’m just stunned that Jesus went first.
And we, also, are crucified with Christ. But Christ made it safe to die.
“Only the fallen and buried can rise.”
So today, even when there is no movement, no action, no voice, no word—there is hope, promise, prophecy. Even in death, there is purpose. Even in crucifixion, there is power.
“In three days, I will rise.”
And even though this promise seems like the most untrue statement on Saturday—it is still true. Because that’s how the Word of God is—it’s True. Even when all rational thinking says it’s not.
“Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.”