He Is Risen!

Deep Sorrow Turns to Exuberant Joy – He Is Risen!

Mar 16:1

Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.

Mar 16:2

Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.

Mar 16:3

And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?”

Mar 16:4

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large.

Mar 16:5

And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.

Mar 16:6

But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.

Mar 16:7

“But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”

The exuberant joy part of the story!

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Previously written on this post:

Last evening, I attended the Good Friday service at Life Mission Church.  This is a newer, growing church that our son found through a Christian friend who is also in his growth group.  After the two services that I have attended so far,  I can see why attendees are so highly blessed!

Pastor Jobey interspersed Old Testament prophecy passages from the book of Isaiah, Psalms, and Zechariah and shared how they were fulfilled by Christ in the New Testament.

He described the events (and showed clips of the Passion of the Christ on the screen) leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.  Such prophecies were written approximately 450 years before the birth of Jesus!

In addition, the live worship band was terrific!  The songs were a great mix of deeply devotional lyrics combined with an almost “rock band” style of music.  I can see why younger people like the services.  However, the attendees were a mix of all generations.

I must admit, this was the best Good Friday service that I have ever experienced!  Congregants were encouraged to come forward near the end of the service and partake of not only the communion elements, but to take a bit of bitter herbs and dip them into the salt water – representing our sins that Jesus suffered and died for which are cleansed by His atonement on the cross that was accepted by God the Father for the remission of sin.  We then took a piece of bread, representing Jesus’ body which was given up for us, and dipped it into the wine which represents the blood He shed for the remission of sins.  Lastly, we had the opportunity to dip our finger into a dish of myrrh as anointing oil.

Biblical Archaeology.org describes the significance of what (and why) the Magi brought gold, frankincense and myrrh to the child Jesus.

Excerpt:

Since the early days of Christianity, Biblical scholars and theologians have offered varying interpretations of the meaning and significance of the gold, frankincense and myrrh that the magi presented to Jesus, according to the Gospel of Matthew (2:11). These valuable items were standard gifts to honor a king or deity in the ancient world: gold as a precious metal, frankincense as perfume or incense, and myrrh as anointing oil.

[…] In addition to the honor and status implied by the value of the gifts of the magi, scholars think that these three were chosen for their special spiritual symbolism about Jesus himself—gold representing his kingship, frankincense a symbol of his priestly role, and myrrh a prefiguring of his death and embalming—an interpretation made popular in the well-known Christmas carol “We Three Kings.”

The myrrh had a sweet fragrance that lasted many hours on my hand.

Finally, the deep sorrow we feel for the pain, suffering, and ultimate death that Jesus endured for us on the cross, turns to exuberant joy because although It’s Friday, Sunday is coming!

If video does not play here, go to:

You Tube: It’s Friday, But Sunday’s Coming

Hat tip: Biblical Archaeology.org and all links and graphics.