Jacobs Thoughts and Doings

1 He dies, the Friend of sinners dies!
Lo! Salem’s daughters weep around.
A solemn darkness veils the skies;
a sudden trembling shakes the ground.

2 Here’s love and grief beyond degree:
the Lord of glory dies for men;
but lo, what sudden joys we see!
Jesus, the dead, revives again.

3 The rising God forsakes the tomb!
The tomb in vain forbids His rise:
Cherubic legions guard Him home,
And shout Him welcome to the skies.

4 Break off your tears, ye saints, and tell
how high your great Deliv’rer reigns.
Sing how He spoiled the hosts of hell,
and led the monster, Death, in chains.

5 Say: “Live forever, wondrous King,
born to redeem, and strong to save!”
Then ask the monster: “Where’s thy sting?
And where’s thy vict’ry, boasting grave?”

Isaac Watts, the author, was the son of a schoolmaster, and was born in Southampton, July 17, 1674.

Anna Ruth prepared several dozen eggs for our egg coloring event on Friday night.  The basket of white eggs caught my eye.  Each egg is full of promise, together the basket full announces surprises.  Ever since I was a boy I loved the sight of eggs.  I can well see how our culture fell in love with eggs, so to speak, because in each one is the history and potential that lies in that egg.  That we all understand.  Somewhere along the line of time eggs became symbols of the new life that there is in Jesus.  It is not a perfect simile but near enough to rejoice the heart and mind.

Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Savior,
Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!

Refrain

Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Vainly they watch His bed, Jesus my Savior;
Vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!

Refrain

Death cannot keep its Prey, Jesus my Savior;
He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!

Refrain

—–

Ro­bert Low­ry, 1874. 

Lowry studied theology at the University at Lewisburg, (now Bucknell University in Pennsylvania) and on graduating, in 1854, became ordained as a Baptist minister. 

There is something about daffodils that I find impressive.  Beauty, symmetry. first huge blossoms of the new season, a sight that pleases again and again.

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

Luke 24:1 – 3

We do not use spices to embalm bodies these days.  In those days people expressed their love for the one who died by anointing the body upon death, with oils, etc., that were expensive and reserved for this purpose.  Somehow these women of Galilee had or got these burial ointments.  In any case, that is the reason they went early to the tomb.  This is perplexing because we read that before the Sabbath, they tarried at the tomb until the stone was placed at the entrance.  Then they went home sorrowfully.  They determined to go out to that tomb the day after the Sabbath to do what?  Faith is not always a reasonable thing.  They knew the tomb was sealed, they saw that happen.  They had absolutely no access to the tomb.  What faith!  We have no idea what they were thinking but certainly not what is there before them, an empty tomb, open.

As they entered the tomb, they were carrying those ointments.  The grave is empty!  That is the last we read of the ointments!  What was important to them was eclipsed by what they saw, Jesus’ body is not there!

Following Jesus is a life of surprises.  I am almost 90 years old, thinking about the ways of God.  Life has been a series of surprises to me.  In no way could I even begin to name them.  This is true for Anna Ruth and me and for every person who steps out and follows Jesus in life.  We work hard to do what we think we should do, only to find out that God had something far greater in mind!  We prepare, and that is good, but reality takes over!  Our little offering, some spices, bears no resemblance to the gifting that we receive.  I assume you, gentle reader, feel the same – now and always.

Behold, he is risen!

Our rhubarb springs to life, a sure sign of Spring.  In a few weeks we will be having pie!  This is happening in our little garden.  I love to see nature break forth, announcing a new season of hope and delight.

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.  They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

Luke 24:2, 3

Women?  Yes, all women!  Where are the men?  Where is Peter?  Matthew?  James?  The others who walked with Jesus for three years?  The Gospel writers were not concerned with them as they recounted the story.  They follow the women.  Perhaps it was because women usually did the anointing.  Who knows?

The fact is, several women, all of Galilee, went early to the grave site. Mary Magdalene is first mentioned.  Her debt to Jesus was huge, he cast out the spirits that had been bothering her relentlessly.  But the other women had their reasons as well to be there on that morning.  I wonder what the mother of James and John felt.  We know that John stayed near the women at the Crucifixion.  The love of women is something special, indeed.  Jesus received their love.

The women did not expect, even their wildest dreams, to discover what they did – they were amazed to see that the heavy stone was somehow rolled away, opening the way into the tomb that was now empty!  They came to anoint Jesus’s body.  It was not there, it was gone! Now, what?  They had the spices and anointing oil in their hands.  But no body!

As I recall, Jesus confided with his disciples that he would rise from the dead.  I doubt whether the women knew that.  They did not come to find a risen Jesus, they came to anoint a dead Jesus!  So, the wonders begin when the first sun rays lit the skies, events that changed everything.

We who have been blessed by the mighty grace of God find great consolation in this story.   As these women, we bow before our Lord, undone but full of glory!

At this time of the new growing year I usually look hard for the new vibrant shoots or whatever on our precious small plot on this earth.  Among the first here are the roses.  I was hugely impressed by the power of the rose bush to burst with life, ready to bask in the sunshine of the Spring and prepare for a Summer of delight.  What joy!

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.

Luke 24:1

These women impress me!  They were the last of Jesus’ friends to leave the tomb on the day of Crucifixion.  All others fled.  They did not expect to find Jesus dead, so they did not have anything to anoint his lifeless body.  That would have been the appropriate thing to do.  It was late when his body was placed in Joseph’s tomb, then closed with a large stone and sealed with a Roman seal to make sure no one tries to get into the tomb, maybe to steal something of worth.  The Roman ruler placed guards at the tomb to make sure no one tried to go in.

The women saw all this.  The sun went down, and Jesus’ body was placed on a cold slab in the newly-hewn tomb. There is nothing they could do.  I suppose, as they returned through the streets of Jerusalem in the dark to where they were staying, they discussed what next, after the Sabbath, of course.  It would not surprise me that they thought of doing what was customary, that is to lovingly anoint Jesus lifeless body as their final deed of love.  As we read the text there is no indication that the women had any idea that Jesus might come alive on the third day and burst out of that tomb.

My mind goes to the disciples who heard most distinctly Jesus telling them, several times, that after three days he would rise from the dead.  It could be that was so incredulous that they did not take it in at all.  In any case they were no where to be found.  No, it was the women who were doing what was expected, prepared to anoint his lifeless body.  Everyone except these women hid or did nothing.  Everyone!

What can I learn from all this?  More than I can say, but I am made aware of the fact that we had better listen to Jesus.  His words are true now and forever.  And we should not be greatly surprised that the main characters in the life of Jesus are not there when he died for them.  Only the women stayed to the end and arrived first on the third day.  My, soul, learn from these women!  When all flee, remain there with Jesus no matter what, through good times and bad.

The first days of Spring this year were a bit different.  In our maple tree were three brightly colored male robins, eager to get on with preparing for nesting, now waiting for the Spring snow to melt!  The days are getting longer and a bit warmer.  Good news for me who loves Spring, for sure.