A Time of Anticipation
By Cyndi Kay Green
As I went in to my quiet time this morning, my heart was heavy and I felt like I was in the wilderness just wondering around. It was like I was lingering for something that I could almost see coming, but also knowing that it could blow right past me. It was a place of knowing what the world is saying and knowing the promises of following God. A time of anticipation of the promise that I know God has given me.
I have been in Psalms for my Bible study, but since this is such an amazing weekend, I decided I would study this morning about the burial of Christ. Kind of a strange place to study since the crucifixion and resurrection are the major events, but nonetheless, this is where I felt led to read this morning. Not knowing why, I began reading in the book of John concerning this event and was then led to compare the 4 Gospels. So, I read the passages from Matthew 27:57-66, Mark 15:42-16:1, Luke 23:50-56, and John 19:38-42. All of these spoke of the burial of Jesus and all four Gospels depict the burial in much the same manner with a few differences. They all teach us that a rich counsellor from Arimathea named Joseph pleaded for the body of Christ. This was to fulfill the scripture of Isaiah 53:9 which tells us that though he died with criminals he would be buried with the rich. So, after getting the okay from Pilate to have the body of Jesus, Joseph removes him from the cross and wraps the body in fine linen. In the book of John, it is noted that Nicodemus brought myrrh and aloes that he and Joseph used on the body of Jesus before placing Jesus’ body in the tomb. The stone was rolled in front of the tomb and left. Since it was getting close to the sabbath day, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome, the mother of Zebedee’s children waited to properly anoint the body of Christ. This is where my true study came to life.
I began to question where did they go? What were they doing while they waited to anoint the Lord? As I studied out the questions, I recalled the triumphant entry of Jesus and the shouts of “Hosanna”. The remembrance of Passover came to me and it was then that I began to see. In the middle of the death of Jesus, people had paused not only to keep the sabbath day holy as commanded in Exodus 20:8 and Leviticus 19:30, but they were also observing Passover. They were in remembrance of being delivered from Egypt. I thought about this for a minute and when I thought about the story of the Passover, I realized that people waited through the night for deliverance. They waited in hopes of being led away from the bondage into freedom. I also thought about the journey afterwards. How God’s people were delivered and yet they remained in the wilderness because they would not take the promised land like God had instructed. This was where I felt I have been for a bit.
I went back to my original study and began to feel my spirit move. When I thought about how they were observing a holiday that was in remembrance of freedom in the midst of the death of their Savior, I began to feel a multitude of emotions. I wondered if they were truly observing Passover as they had years before. Were they rejoicing because God had brought them out of slavery? Or were they perhaps, going through the motions because they were heartbroken at the “loss” of their Savior? I did know that they were postponing their desires. They were delaying to properly bury The Messiah because they were obeying the commandment to keep the sabbath day holy. Just as families waited for the Passover during the night, the families were now pausing from properly caring for the body of Christ. Either way, it was a place of standing still and doing only what they knew they were supposed to be doing. This resonated with me so intensely. I was in that place of standing still. Longing to see the answer and hear His confirmation. Yet, I am rejoicing because I know that He is not in the grave. Those who were wanting to anoint the body of Jesus were in synagogues or homes observing the sabbath as well as Passover.
See, we get so caught up in what we thing deliverance looks like that we forget to stand still and wait. We tend to try to make things happen and then we are still standing at the edge of the wilderness looking at the promised land. It is in the standing and waiting that God is doing the most work. When we don’t see it, He is moving and shaking things up so that the Promise comes alive. Standing still has never been a strong trait of mine, but I am learning it is the most glorious time. Therefore, it is during that time that I always draw closer to God and developed an even deeper and stronger relationship with Him. Just like those who were wanting to prepare the body, I am rejoicing in the victory of deliverance because I know that when they go back, the story gets better. I know that when I keep doing what I know to do, the promise will come forth.
As we go into Easter weekend of 2020, we are living in such a tumultuous time. As a country we are facing uncertainty about our economy and as a world we are battling the disease of covid-19. We stand and wait for the promise to come. The promise of better economy and the promise of defeating this disease of the enemy. I encourage you as you stand, raise your voice in thanksgiving and praise. Let us declare the victory and sing praises of love to the Father. For it was His love that sent our Savior, Jesus, to die for our sins. Just because we are in a time of heartache and cannot see the promise doesn’t mean we cannot rejoice. It is in this kind of rejoicing that we are made strong. So, as you find yourself in the time of anticipation of celebrating the Resurrection of the Promise, stand and rejoice.
