" JESUS' Final Week of Work - Saturday "

      Saturday, the crucifixion of our LORD, is done.  HE was gently wrapped, spices intermingled within the wrappings, and laid in a borrowed tomb. The women kept watch, guards were added and a Roman Seal was put on the stone for added security. Who did they think would disturb the MASTER ?  Did they really think that someone would take on the Roman soldiers to steal a dead body ?  Many thoughts were going through not only the disciples and the women's minds, but also through the Chief Priests and Pharisees minds.

Matthew 27:59-66  And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.

 And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.

On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the Chief Priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, " Sir, we remember, while HE was still alive, how that deceiver said, ' After three days I will rise.' 

Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest HIS disciples come by night and steal HIM away, and say to the people, ' HE has risen from the dead.'  So the last deception will be worse than the first."  Pilate said to them, " You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how."  So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.

      As I said above, who in their right mind would go against the Roman guards and break a Roman seal for a dead body ?  On this day the women would watch over the tomb and also prepare more spices for the body; the disciples were so afraid that they would be next, they hide themselves for fear of the Jews coming for them and killing them as they did the LORD.   But this day was their Sabbath day so no work could be done.  The spices and fragrant oils that the women would prepare would have to wait til the next day to be put on the LORD's body.

      Now there are verses that describe what JESUS did after HIS burial.  There is a verse in Psalm 68:18 that states,  " YOU have ascended on high, YOU have led captivity captive; YOU have received gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the LORD GOD might dwell there."

This captivity captive refers to those who had been waiting on the Paradise side of Hades. When you read the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31 you see that Lazarus went to the bosom of Abraham where all the Saints were waiting for the MESSIAH to fulfill HIS sacrifice and free them to be taken with HIM up into Heaven.   Many call this a Parable and not a true story, but if you look at the LORD's Parables, they had no names. Lazarus was named, the rich man was not because he ended up in Hell on the tormented side. So the LORD took those who had been waiting for HIS fulfillment of prophecy to heaven, just as we, the Bride of CHRIST are waiting for HIM to come back to the clouds and take those of us up first who died from HIS Ascension on til that day HE comes and those who are alive and remain will be caught up with HIM, forever to be with the LORD.

      Now since this is more of a quiet day, I wanted to take this time to write the prophetic chapter 53 in the book of Isaiah which speaks of the MESSIAH's coming, HIS rejection by the Jews, HIS death, burial and resurrection.

Isaiah 53:1-12   Who has believed our report ? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed ? For HE shall grow up before HIM as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. HE has no form or comeliness; and when we see HIM , there is no beauty that we should desire HIM. HE is despised and rejected by men. A MAN of sorrows and acquainted with grief, and we hid, as it were, our faces from HIM; HE was despised, and we did not esteem HIM. 

Surely HE has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed HIM stricken, smitten by GOD, and afflicted. But HE was wounded for our transgressions, HE was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon HIM, and by HIS stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on HIM the iniquity of us all.

HE was oppressed and HE was afflicted, yet HE opened not HIS mouth; and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so HE opened not HIS mouth.

HE was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare HIS generation ? For HE was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of MY people HE was stricken. And they made HIS grave with the wicked--But with the rich at HIS death, because HE had done no violence, nor was any deceit in HIS mouth.

Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise HIM; HE has put HIM to grief. When YOU make HIS soul an offering for sin, HE shall see HIS seed, HE shall prolong HIS days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in HIS hand. HE shall see the travail of HIS soul, and be satisfied. By HIS knowledge MY righteous SERVANT shall justify many, for HE shall bear their iniquities.

Therefore I will divide HIM a portion with the great, and HE shall divide the spoil with the strong, because HE poured out HIS soul unto death, and HE was numbered with the transgressors, and HE bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

      Tomorrow is the day of days !!  The greatest event in all of man's history will take place.  The FATHER's price for our sin will be paid in full, by the ONE WHO took all the punishment in our place.

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie