Sunday Afternoon at Wits' End

Twenty-Eight

Great are the works of the Lord,

studied by all who delight in them.

Full of splendor and majesty is his work,

and his righteousness endures forever.

He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;

the Lord is gracious and merciful.

Psalm 111:2-4, ESV

"Thou hast taught me that
    the finding of this treasure of all grace in the field of Christ
       begets strength, joy, glory,
       and renders all graces alive.
Help me to delight more in what I receive from Christ,
                               more in that fullness which is in Him,
                                    the fountain of all His glory" (The Valley of Vision, 19).

Yesterday was an anniversaire of

Memorial stones this side Jordan.

Few knew;

No one remembered;

But twenty years ago,

The angels danced.
~crm, 4/18/2007

This grey April morning, I'm quietly, thankfully remembering God's grace in opening my eyes 28 years ago today to my sin, His holiness, and the sufficiency of Christ's death and resurrection for me.  I cast myself on His mercies--how could I not?--and life has never been the same. 

Easter Lily

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb,taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

Luke 24:1-3, ESV

In unseen Saturday silence

Petals unfurl, 

Mute trumpets crying out 

With rolled-away stone: 

"Take hope! Take heart! 

Why do you seek the living among the dead? 

He is not here; He is risen! 

"Your trust, your toil, the promise are not vain. 

Death will be swallowed up in victory. 

This body of death, 

This broken life, 

This night of tears are not the end. 

"At last trumpet's fanfare 

Dead shall be raised, 

Dustless, 

Deathless, 

Glorious." 

White heralds soundless sound: 

"Christ has died; 

Christ is risen; 

Christ will come again." 

Hallelujah!

Silent Sabbath

In silent Sabbath after Cross,

Disciples hid themselves away

For fear they’d share their Rabbi’s fate.

How little did they dream the hush

Was prelude to defeat of death

And their salvation by His life,

Just as He promised: Christ would rise,

Defying unbelief—locked doors,

Blocked tomb, locked hearts no obstacle

To Resurrection, Life, and Light.

N.B. That the disciples had already hidden behind locked doors on the Saturday immediately following the Crucifixion is an extrapolation. The Scriptures say clearly that they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment and that by Sunday they were sequestered behind locked doors for fear of the Jews (Luke 23:56 and John 20:19). The suggestion in the poem seems at least plausible, but in truth the Scriptures are silent about that Saturday, so take the idea with a sprinkling of salt.

That said, dear Crumble, if you await resurrection in some deep sorrow in your life, take heart. God's apparent silence does not denote His inactivity or His intention not to bring about eucatastrophe in your dire need. If we learn anything from the silence of Holy Saturday, let it be that. May you and I find strength to persevere in trusting God in the waiting.

"That's My King!"

This well-known sermon excerpt by the late Dr. S. M. Lockridge has not yet lost its power to capture some of the wonder and majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ, the King whom Christians celebrate this week. May the Lord bless, in this Easter season and always, your remembrance of His saving death, burial, and resurrection.

Here is a link to a transcription, if you'd rather read than (or as well as) listen:
http://www.rpmministries.org/2009/12/thats-my-king-do-you-know-him/