"No Longer Needed"

 

“No Longer Needed”

 

In 2017 Karen and I were privileged to go on a tour of Israel with a Connecticut church group. One of the highlights of the trip was seeing and entering the Garden Tomb which many believe was the one from which Jesus emerged alive on that first Resurrection morning. We were struck with awe as we viewed the place His body had been but no longer was because, in the words of our Savior Himself, “,,,I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!” (Revelation 1:18).

As my mind went back to that great building block of our faith I wondered about the tomb. The gospels describe it as “…a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid.” (John 19:41). Not long before Joseph of Arimathea, a secret follower of Jesus, had bought it but we don’t know for sure if it was to provide a final resting place for him and his family or in anticipation of his seeing to it that Jesus had a respectful burial. In any event, after Jesus rose He no longer needed it. But we don’t know if it was ever used again by Joseph or anyone else.

Many people, including Karen and me, have made funeral arrangements according to our wishes so our families would be relieved of this responsibility. Whether these plans are for burial or cremation one thing is certain: there’s a generation of Christians who won’t need them because, in the words of the Apostle Paul, “…we who are still alive will be caught up with (those who have died in Christ) in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). To quote songwriter Jim Hill, “What a day, glorious day, that will be.”

In a “what to do now” question at the close of a message Pastor Brian Stowe asked, “What can you say ‘I don’t need any more’ because Jesus lives in you?” Maybe it’s to worry about the future, meeting others’ expectations and demands or something more personal. Jesus’ use of the tomb ended when He “…was raised from the dead to make us right with God.” (Romans 4:25, NLT). Karen noted “PTL” next to this verse in her Bible—have you said this because Jesus is alive in and for you?

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan