“When
it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself
had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the
body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen
cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and
he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. And Mary
Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the grave.”
Matthew 27, 57-61
When Jesus had died they placed his body into a stone tomb
and sealed it with a large rock. Jesus body was placed in a cave, a cold, dark,
lifeless cave.
I have heard it asked if God is all powerful could he make a
rock so heavy that even he couldn’t move it. If he can then he isn’t all
powerful and if he can’t move that rock he also isn’t all powerful. The truth
of the matter is that God did make a rock so heavy that even he can’t move it.
That rock is called our hearts and out of love for us he chooses not to move it
if we do not want to be moved.
My stone heart is a cold, dark, lifeless place. My heart is the tomb where Jesus was laid to
rest. It is precisely because my heart is stone and I do not hear the voice of
the Lord that he had to give his life for me.
In the early morning of Resurrection Sunday a bright light
filled the tomb of Christ. This was the light of God’s love. This was the Light
returning to the world. This was the Light who conquered death and paid the
ransom for the sins of humanity. The angels of the Lord ministered to him,
releasing him from his burial cloths.
If my stone heart is the tomb in which Jesus was buried then
my heart will be filled with the light of God’s love when Jesus conquers death
and is raised up. The light of God’s love is a transforming light that will
turn my stone heart into a natural heart bursting with love for my Lord. At that
time God will have moved the immovable showing us that he indeed is capable of
all things through love.
“Moreover,
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove
the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. “I will put
My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be
careful to observe My ordinances. “You will live in the land that I gave to
your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God.”
Ezekiel 36, 26 – 28
Prepare you hearts of stone. Allow God to move them. Be
filled with the light of his love when we celebrate Jesus resurrection this
Sunday. Empty yourself and become a lantern to carry the light of God’s love
with you wherever you do. Be filled with the Holy Spirit and rejoice knowing
that death has been conquered.
Become the person God created you to be.
