Died and Was Buried

fear not God can be trusted

Thank you for your prayers.

In the Victorian period,
there was a widespread fear of being buried alive.
Edgar Allen Poe wrote a story about it,
and there were all kinds of contraptions
sold to the fearful
that would help send a signal to those above ground,
that they had been buried alive.

From working in a hospital as a chaplain,
I know that the fear of death is real
and almost universal.
We were never intended to die.
Death is part of the brokenness of humanity,
and this world.
And all people have trouble coming to terms with death.

Jesus Christ
became a man,
and embraced 
all of the human experience.
He wasn't some golden being who walked the earth
without being stained 
by the filth, pain, and dirt of life.

No.

He walked full on into the entire human experience.
And he died the worst way possible.
An innocent man,
betrayed by his friends,
condemned by his nation and his religion,
handed over to foreigners,
and given the worst form of execution
ever created.

He died,
broke and alone.

And somebody gave him their tomb,
because nobody could even afford a funeral.
Many people rush to Easter,
or spiritualize the cross 
until it is meaningless.

Stop here and sit with him awhile.
Weep by the tomb,
and ponder the grief of Mary and John.
Jesus Christ took it all,
and whatever you are facing today,
He can face and take for you.

God died to turn your tragedy into triumph.

He Never Fails,
+christ