Your Invitation to Believe

Easter Saturday is traditionally a pretty quiet day – Good Friday's been, Resurrection Sunday's coming – so with Jesus' cold body lying on a slab in a sealed tomb, there's nothing much to do. Or is there? You can imagine, right? After yesterday's brutality, the disciples were locked away dealing with the trauma of seeing Jesus brutally nailed to a cross, now in fear for their own lives. He was dead and buried, and it was, after all, the sabbath. Luke 23:55-56 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment. (NRSV) There was nothing to do but mourn, rest and prepare to embalm Jesus' body. Thing is, you and I know what's coming … so with that knowledge, put yourself in that silent tomb; Jesus' body lying next to you. You know that the criminal, Barabbas, at the crowd's urging has gone free. This Jesus who came for you, who died for you … who died instead of you lies lifeless beside you.  And you know this timeless truth: John 3:15-16 Whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life." (NRSV) Grace cost Jesus everything — so it could cost us nothing. You, me, and Barabbas — all sons or daughters of the Father. All guilty. All loved beyond measure. All invited to believe. So don't disqualify yourself through guilt. Grace isn't about being good enough. It's about a God who loved you enough to take your place. That's the scandal… and the beauty… of the Gospel. And that's God's Word. Fresh … for you … today.