What was He thinking?
Have you ever wondered what goes on in the mind of a child when they are caught doing something they shouldn’t? My mother would often ask that question of me, and I usually didn’t have a clue as to why I did what I did. I always tried to do what was right. But more often than not I didn’t know the answer when questioned ‘Why.’
When Jesus died on the cruel cross of Roman crucifixion, I’m sure His disciples wondered in grief why it was to be this way. They had followed Jesus for three years, and I don’t think they understood much of why He came to earth.
As the account of the women was told in Scripture, they approached the tomb of Jesus not expecting to see anyone there in sympathy with their need to anoint His body for a proper burial. They didn’t get the fact that He rose again. They expected to have to find someone to roll the stone away. It certainly didn’t happen as they expected. They were still wondering why it had to be that He even died.
When they did approach the tomb, the stone was rolled away. They were amazed, I’m sure, to say the least about their emotional state at that time. I know when I got to go to Israel, I entered the place they say was Jesus’s tomb. Guess what?—the body wasn’t there. I wasn’t expecting to find Him there. A sign above the exit door stated: HE IS NOT HERE! HE IS RISEN! What an awesome feeling I had to know with assurance that Jesus is alive and well.
So what were the disciples thinking when the women came back to tell them Jesus was alive? I probably would have been just as skeptical. Peter and John ran to the tomb to see for themselves. They found Jesus gone. I wonder what they were thinking then.
Jesus was crucified, buried in a borrowed tomb, and on the third day rose again in victory over my sin, my death, and my grave, and is alive forevermore. Because I believe in Him and follow His plan of salvation, redemption, and will, I also get to participate in Heaven for all eternity. When He was on the Cross, in the tomb, and rising again, He was thinking about redeeming His Creation. I’m part of that.
When He returns from preparing a place for us in Heaven, I get to be a part of that, as well. Are you ready?
He is coming, Soon!