Grace...

Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit."  When he had said this, he breathed his last.  Luke 23:46  (NIV)

The final words of a dying man rang out across the landscape as the sun hid itself and people slowly drifted away.  The spectacle of a "king" dying on the cross was over, and other than the soldiers who guarded the prisoners to be sure no one could steal their bodies away, it is likely only those who loved him most remained, frightened, uncertain, unsure what to do next.  Their lives were in danger from their close association with him, and they didn't know where to turn.

The women were probably a little safer.  As females, they weren't worth notice, and they may have crept closer to his feet to try to touch him one last time.  But the Sabbath was at hand, and preparations needed to be made.  They must have been torn, wanting to stay, wanting to leave, not knowing what was to come next.

Joseph, a faithful man of honor and integrity, one who had not agreed to this death of a righteous man, went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.  I imagine Pilot was happy to unload the responsibility.  After all, as long as Jesus was hanging there, his followers could still be incited to  insurrection and violence.  They had little to lose, as they were already considered outlaws themselves.  I am certain Pilot thought the sooner Jesus was gone from sight and mind, the better.  The last thing he would have wanted was a martyr to inspire their cause.

Joseph did not cast Jesus into a pauper's grave, as might be expected for someone who was crucified as common criminal.  That is likely what happened to the other two who hung there with him.  Instead, Joseph took Jesus to a unmarked tomb, cut from a rock, as yet unused. We can only assume it was a family vault, probably purchased for his own burial, and as such, would have been a decent place to lay the body.  Although wrapped in linen cloths, his body was unprepared for burial because of the lateness of the hour.  The women who had remained followed Joseph, and knew the location of their beloved Jesus, determined to come back after the Sabbath and anoint his body with spices and oils, to prepare it properly for burial.

What utter desolation the followers of Jesus must have experienced then, as the realization hit them that their beloved leader was gone.  They did not understand the epic battle that was being waged on their behalf, and on ours, at that very moment.  They did not realize that Jesus was in hell, utterly without God's presence, fighting the power of Satan alone for the purchase of our souls for all eternity.  They thought the battle was over, and had been lost.  They were blinded by their human limitations, unaware of the glorious resurrection which was now just a few short hours away.

Grace is the unmerited, unearned forgiveness of God.  Jesus has paid our debt in full.  The power of God's mercy, his unending love and faithfulness, have already been bestowed.  All we must do is accept him and we will rejoice with him for all eternity.

Tomorrow we will celebrate the victory of Jesus over death once again.  It is the victory of God over Satan, of good over evil, of eternity with God instead of being cast away from him.  Despite my sinful nature, God will not only forgive everything, but will bring me to him when my own time has come.

For now, I am grateful for the opportunity to journey to the cross along side my Savior, to walk with him in his life and death through the words of the Bible, and to know my salvation is assured through his resurrection.  God's grace has been present each step of the way, and his unconditional love and mercy are beyond my limited human understanding.

Forty days of gratitude is not enough.  I will be grateful all my days for the gift of God's grace which will bring me home to the arms of God when my turn has come.