His grave—Easter Series Part 9

His grave was assigned with wicked men, yet He was with a rich man in His death, because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth. Isaiah 53:9

His grave was assigned with wicked men…

This verse displays the laser-like accuracy of Isaiah’s prophecy. Jesus died between two common thieves (Luke 23:32-33), demonstrating the disdain of His executioners toward Him. Apparently, those supervising His crucifixion planned to cast Him into a common grave with the peut-on acheter pharmacie viagra wicked, just as Isaiah 53:9 prophesied.

Religious leadership planned all this in order to heap the greatest level of discredit and viagra escapades-branchees.fr disgrace possible upon the itinerant Preacher/Healer. He—who had so completely wowed the crowds by His simplicity, kindness, and power—stood in stark contrast to His detractors. Their lack of warmth, power, and godly authority had been exposed by the life of the Son of Man, and this was something they could not stomach and would not tolerate.

…yet He was with a rich man in His death…

One part of their plan fell apart when wealthy secret disciple, Joseph of Arimathea—himself a member of the Sanhedrin—went to Pilate and requested the body of Jesus (see John 19:38 and Luke 23:50). Pilate agreed, and Joseph, along with Nicodemus (see John 19:39), took the Lord’s body and bound it in linen wrappings and spices, a burial custom for the Jews. Joseph placed the body in his own new tomb (see Matthew 27:60). In this way, Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled: Jesus’ grave had been assigned with wicked men, and yet a rich man—Joseph—was with Him in His death.

…because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth.

Although indignities had been heaped upon Jesus from the moment He had been arrested and continued unabated throughout His trial, scourging, sentencing, and crucifixion, God would allow no further humiliation to be imposed upon Him. With His death, just as He declared, it was finished.

Further indignities had been planned against this Man, even after His death. As Isaiah had prophesied, His grave was assigned with wicked men. His accusers were determined to afford Him no honor. Indeed, the chief priests and Pharisees met with Pilate and asked that he ensure the security of Jesus’ tomb. Why? They said they feared that His disciples would steal the body to make everyone think that Jesus had risen. Pilate replied, “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.” With that, they secured the grave, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone (see Matthew 27:65-66). In fearful contempt for the Lord, they wanted to make sure His body stayed put in that tomb.

Yet Jesus had come to fulfill a specific task—to take on the sin of the world and cialis online sales atmanmanagementgroup.com to bear the full judgment for it. When He declared on the cross, “It is finished,” it was finished. Despite the deluded thoughts gurgling within those who killed Him to incriminate Him after death for all time, when Jesus died, their role ceased. God saw to it.

Because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth, God directed Joseph to care for the Lord’s body with dignity and to place it in a respectable tomb. The Lamb of God came to die for you and me; after that He broke open the prison gates of death and the grave by the resurrection power of God. The plan of God had to play out according to His rules, not man’s.

God’s plan will always unfold according to His rules; and when man seeks to override that plan, he will always come up short. If man persists to push against God’s will, like those who crucified the Lord, he will be in for a big surprise: the irrefutable, unstoppable resurrection power of God. Be advised: God’s plan cannot be thwarted.

Dorothy

…but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.  1 Corinthians 2:7-8