December 16

The Sepulchre

Now there was a garden in the place where Jesus was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. And because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and the tomb was nearby, they placed Jesus there. — John 19:41-42 BSB

As we stand by this garden tomb, many thoughts come to mind. Jesus touched every part of life. From infancy to death, He experienced every phase of human existence, even lying in a grave. No matter where we go in life, we can say, “Jesus was here. He went through this experience and understands it.” We fear the grave, its darkness, but why should we be afraid when Jesus Himself has been there?

Another thought is that this tomb was provided for Jesus by friends. Some see this as a mark of His humility. He was born in a borrowed manger, had nowhere to rest His head during His ministry, and was buried in a borrowed grave.

We also see how hopeless things must have seemed at that time. The disciples had believed Jesus was the Messiah, but now He was dead, His work apparently over. Their hopes had depended on His living to ascend a throne. It must have seemed like the end of everything. Yet the grave was simply the low gateway to glory. From our perspective, in the light of the gospel, we see that nothing was interrupted, no plans were thwarted, no hopes were dashed. Shouldn’t we learn to carry the truth of eternal life into our own faith and hopes? When we stand by the graves of our Christian loved ones, we often grieve as deeply as these disciples did. Why don’t we learn to trust? Death ends nothing for those who die in the Lord—except for their struggles, sorrow, and sin. No hopes are lost when a believer is buried. Just beyond is glory.