The Borrowed Tomb

UV 3675/10000 The Borrowed Tomb Now there was a garden at the place where He was crucified, and in the garden, a new tomb (cut out of solid rock) in which no one had yet been laid. John 19 v 41 It is indeed the greatest of ironies of history that the One who owned the entire universe and had created the entire universe came into this Earth in a borrowed womb and left the earth in a borrowed tomb, the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. Jesus is the Rock that was not cut by human hands, spoken of by Daniel in his prophetic vision. The rock that will grow and fill the whole earth. The condemned prisoner Jesus is today, a Name revered by kings and commoners all over the globe. He is the solid rock on which we base our hope in life as in death. For death is swallowed up by His death and resurrection. The borrowed tomb could barely hold Him for three days. The defeat, the sting and the stench of death was quenched forever for him or her that held onto this hope in the risen Christ who rose to rule over both death and life. The garden of Eden and indeed, the Earth in which it is located was cursed by the act of faithlessness and disobedience of the first man and woman. On the cross and in the borrowed tomb, Jesus atoned for that and declared the Earth once more blessed. The earth and all in it could once more be redeemed by faith in Him, the Word of God. Man once again moved from tragic shortcoming or “hamartia” to hyperbole, the abundant life. The grave had been transformed into a garden of fruitfulness. The message of the borrowed womb and the borrowed tomb is deep, impactful and enduring. Happiness is no longer defined as the pursuit of (often sinful) pleasure but a blend of a sense of wonder at God’s love and power, a grasp of godly wisdom, access to the miracle working power of God on earth, His power and grace, His limitless love manifested in His sacrificing the beloved Son and availing of the peace that passes understanding that Jesus alone can impart in all situations of life. The Lord God is closer to us than our own skin and sin is kept at bay. We become the living temple of God and the word gives us the templates to build that temple day after day. Jesus overturns the money changing tables, the love of dishonest gain, inside of us and drives out our personal demons so that our hearts and minds become truly the kingdom of God.