Holy Week Reflection: Saturday

It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ” Mark 15:42-16:7 (NIV)

Arise My Love
Performed by Newsong

Not a word was heard
At the tomb that day.
Just shuffling of soldiers feet
As they guarded the grave.
One day, two days,
Three days had past.
Could it be that Jesus
Breathed His last?
Could it be that His Father
Had forsaken him?
Turned his back on his son
Dispising our sin.
All hell seemed to whisper
Just forget Him, He’s dead.”
Then the Father looked down
To his son and he said..

Arise, My love.
Arise, My love.
The grave no longer
Has a hold on you
No more death’s sting
No more suffering
Arise…Arise…my love.

The Earth trembled
And the tomb began to shake,
And like lightening
From Heaven the stone was rolled away.
And as dead man
The guards they all stood there in fright
As the power of love
Displayed its might
Then suddenly a melody
Filled the air
Riding wings of wind,
It was everywhere
The words all creation
Had been longing to hear
The sweet sound of victory,
So loud and clear.

Arise, my love.
Arise, my love.
The grave no longer has a hold on you.
No more death’s sting
No more suffering
Arise…arise….

Sin, where are your shackles?
Death, where is your sting?
Hell; has been defeated.
The grave could not hold the king.

Arise, my love.
Arise, my love.
The grave no longer has a hold on you.
No more death’s sting
No more suffering
Arise…arise….