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80 - The Desire of Ages - Ellen Gould · Philosophy and Faith

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In Joseph's tomb. At last, Jesus was at rest. The long day
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of shame and torture was ended. As the last rays of the setting sun
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ushered in the Sabbath. The Son of God lay in quietude in Joseph's tomb,
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his work completed, his hands folded in peace, he rested through the
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sacred hours of the Sabbath day. In the beginning, the Father and the
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Son had rested upon the Sabbath after their work of creation. When the heavens
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and the earth were finished, and all the host of them Genesis two one,
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the Creator and all heavenly beings rejoiced in contemplation of the glorious scene.
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The morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.
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Job thirty eight seven. Now Jesus rested from the work of redemption,
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And though there was grief among those who loved him on earth, yet there
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was joy in heaven. Glorious to the eyes of heavenly beings was the promise
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of the future, a restored creation, a redeemed race, that, having
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conquered sin, could ever fall. This the result to flow from Christ's completed
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work. God and angels saw with this scene. The day upon which Jesus
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rested is forever linked, for his work is perfect, and whatsoever God doeth,
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it shall be forever Deuteronomy thirty two four Ecclesiastes three fourteen, When there
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shall be a restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of
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all his holy prophets since the world begin Acts three twenty one. The Creation
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Sabbath, the day on which Jesus lay at rest in Joseph's tomb, will
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still be a day of rest in rejoicing. Heaven and Earth will unite in
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praise, as from one Sabbath to another Isaiah sixty six, twenty three.
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The nations of the save shall bow in joyful worship to God and the Lamb.
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In the closing events of the crucifixion day, fresh evidence was given of
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the fulfillment of prophecy and new witness born to Christ's divinity. When the darkness
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had lifted from the cross and the Saviour's dying cry had been uttered, immediately
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another voice was heard, saying, truly, this was the Son of God
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Matthew twenty seven fifty four. These words were said in no whispered tones.
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All eyes were turned to see whence they came who had spoken. It was
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the centurion, the Roman soldier. The divine patience of the Savior and his
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sudden death with the cry of victory upon his lips, had impressed this heathen.
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In the bruised, broken body hanging upon the cross, the centurion recognized
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the form of the Son of God. He could not refrain from confessing his
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faith. Thus again evidence was given that our Redeemer was to see of the
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travail of his soul upon the very day of his death. Three men,
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differing widely from one another, had declared their faith. He who commanded the
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Roman guard, he who bore the cross of the Savior, and he who
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died upon the cross at his side. As evening drew on, an unearthly
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stillness hung over cavalry, The crowd dispersed, and many returs turned to Jerusalem,
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greatly changed in spirit from what they had been in the morning. Many
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had flocked to the crucifixion from curiosity and not from hatred toward Christ. Still,
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they believed the accusations of the priests and looked upon Christ as a malefactor.
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Under an unnatural excitement, they had united with the mob in railing against
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him. But when the earth was wrapped in blackness, and they stood accused
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by their own consciences, they felt guilty of a great wrong. No jest
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or mocking laughter was heard in the midst of that fearful gloom, and when
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it was lifted, they made their way to their homes in solemn silence.
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They were convinced that the charges of the priest were false, that Jesus was
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no pretender, And a few weeks later, when Peter preached upon the Day
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of Pentecost, they were among the thousands who became converts to Christ. But
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the Jewish leaders were unchanged by the events they had witnessed. Their hatred of
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Jesus had not abated. The darkness that had mantled the earth at the crucifixion
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was not more dense than that which still enveloped the minds of the priests and
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rulers at his birth. The Star had known Christ and had guided the wise
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men to the manger where he lay. The heavenly host had known him and
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had sung his praise over the plains of Bethlehem. The sea had known his
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voice and had obeyed his command. Disease and death had recognized his authority,
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and had yielded to him their prey. The Son had known him, and
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at the sight of his dying anguish, had hidden its face of light.
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The ROCs had known him and had shivered into fragments at his cry. Inanimate
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nature had known Christ and had borne witness to his divinity. But the priest
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and rulers of visual knew not the Son of God. Yet the priests and
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rulers were not at rest. They had carried out their purpose in putting Christ
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to death, but they did not feel the sense of victory they had expected.
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Even in the hour of their apparent triumph. They were harassed with doubts
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as to what would next take place. They had heard the cry it is
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finished, Father, into thy hands, I commend my spirit John nineteen thirty
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Luke twenty three forty six. They had seen the rocks rent and had felt
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the mighty earthquake, and they were restless and uneasy. They had been jealous
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of Christ's influence with the people when living. They were jealous of him even
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in death. They dreaded the dead Christ more, far more than they had
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ever feared the living Christ. They dreaded to have the attention of the people
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directed any further to the events attending his crucifixion. They feared the results of
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that day's work. Not on any account would they have had his body remain
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on the cross during the Sabbath. The Sabbath was now drawing on, and
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it would be a violation of its sanctity for the bodies to hang upon the
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cross. So, using this as a pretext, the leading Jews requested Pilot
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that the death of the victims might be hastened and their bodies removed before the
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setting of the sun. Pilot was as unwilling as they for the body of
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Jesus to remain upon the cross. His consent having been obtained, the legs
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of the two thieves were broken to hasten their death, but Jesus was found
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to be already dead. The rude soldiers had been softened by what they had
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heard and seen of Christ, and they were restrained from breaking his limbs.
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Thus, in the offering of the Lamb of God was fulfilled the law of
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the Passover, they shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break
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any bone of it. According to all the ordinances of the Passover, they
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shall keep it. Numbers nine twelve. The priests and rulers were amazed to
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find that Christ was dead. Death by the cross was a lingering process.
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It was difficult to determine when life had ceased. It was an unheard of
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thing for one to die within six hours of crucifixion. The priest wished to
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make sure of the death of Jesus, and at their suggestion, a soldier
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thrust a spear into the Savior's side. From the wound thus made there flowed
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two copious and distinct streams, one of blood, the other of water.
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This was noted by all the beholders, and John states the occurrence very definitely.
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He says, one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side,
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and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare
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record, and his record is true. And he knoweth that he saith true,
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that ye might believe, for these things were done, that the scripture
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should be fulfilled. A bone of him shall not be broken. And again
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another scripture saith they shall look on him whom they pierced. John nineteen thirty
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four thirty seven. After the resurrection, the priest and rulers circulated the report
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that Christ did not die upon the cross, that he merely fainted and was
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afterward revived. Another report affirmed that it was not a real body of flesh
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and bone, but the likeness of a body that was laid in the tomb.
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The action of the Roman soldiers disproves these falsehoods. They broke not his
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legs because he was already dead. To satisfy the priest, they pierced his
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side. Had not life been already extinct, this wound would have caused instant
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death. But it was not the spear thrust. It was not the pain
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of the cross that caused the death of Jesus. That cry uttered with a
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loud voice Matthew twenty seven fifty Luke twenty three forty six at the moment of
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death, the stream of blood and water that flowed from his side declared that
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he died of a broken heart. His heart was broken by mental anguish.
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He was slain by the sin of the world. With the death of Christ,
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the hopes of his disciples perished. They looked upon his closed eyelids,
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a drooping head, his hair matted with blood, his pierced hands and feet,
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and their anguish was indescribable. Until the last they had not believed that
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he would die. They could hardly believe that he was really dead. Overwhelmed
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with sorrow, they did not recall his words foretelling this very scene. Nothing
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that he had said now gave them comfort. They solemnly the cross and its
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bleeding victim. The future seemed dark with despair. Their faith in Jesus had
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perished. But never had they loved their Lord as now. Never before had
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they so felt his worth and their need of his presence, even in death.
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Christ's body was very precious to his disciples. They longed to give him
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an honored burial, but knew not how to accomplish. This. Treason against
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the Roman government was the crime for which Jesus was condemned, and persons put
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to death for this offense were consigned to a burial ground especially provided for such
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criminals. The disciple John with the women from Galilee, had remained at the
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cross. They could not leave the body of their Lord to be handled by
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the unfeeling soldiers and buried in a dishonored grave. Yet they could not prevent
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it. They could obtain no favors from the Jewish authorities, and they had
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no influence with Pilot in this emergency, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus came to
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the help of the disciples. Both these men were members of the Sanhedron and
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were acquainted with Pilot. Both were men of wealth and influence. They were
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determined that the body of Jesus should have an honorable burial. Joseph went boldly
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to Pilot and begged from him the body of Jesus. For the first time,
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Pilot learned that Jesus was really dead. Conflicting reports had reached him in
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regard to the events attending the crucifixion, but the knowledge of Christ's death had
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been purposely kept from him. Pilot had been warned by the priests and rulers
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against deception by Christ's disciples in regard to his body. Upon hearing Joseph's request,
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he therefore sent for the centurion who had charged at the cross and learned
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for certainty of the death of Jesus. He also drew from him an account
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of the scenes of cavalry, confirming the testimony of Joseph. The request of
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Joseph was granted. While John was troubled about the burial of his master,
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Joseph returned with Pilot's order for the body of Christ, and Nicodemus came bringing
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a costly mixture of murrh and aloes of about one hundred pounds weight for his
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embalming. The most honored in all Jerusalem could not have been shown more respect
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and death. The disciples were astonished to see these wealthy rulers as much interested
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as they themselves in the burial of their lord. Neither Joseph nor Nicodemus had
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openly accepted the Savior while he was living. They knew that such a step
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would exclude them from the Sanhedrin, and they hoped to protect him by their
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influence in its councils. For a time they had seemed to succeed, but
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the wily priest, seeing their favor to Christ, had thwarted their plans.
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In their absence, Jesus had been condemned and delivered to be crucified. Now
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that he was dead, they no longer concealed their attachment to him. While
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the disciples feared to show themselves openly as his followers, Joseph and Nicodemus came
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boldly to their aid. The help of these rich and honored men was greatly
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needed at this time they could do for their dead master what it was impossible
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for the poor disciples to do, and their wealth and influence protected them in
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a great measure from the malice of the priests and rulers. Gently and reverently,
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they removed with their own hands the body of Jesus from the cross.
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Their tears of sympathy fell fast as they looked upon his bruised and lacerated form.
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Joseph owned a new tomb, hewn in a rock. This he was
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reserving for himself, but it was near Cawery, and he now prepared it
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for Jesus. The body, together with the spices brought by Nicodemus, was
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carefully wrapped in a linen sheet, and the Redeemer was born to the tomb.
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There, the three disciples straightened the mangled limbs and folded the bruised hands
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upon the pulseless breast. The galley and women came to see that all had
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been done that could be done for the lifeless form of their beloved teacher.
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Then they saw the heavy stone rolled against the entrance of the tomb, and
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the Savior was left at rest. The women were last at the cross and
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last at the tomb. Of Christ. While the evening shades were gathering,
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Mary Magdalene and the other Marys lingered about the resting place of their Lord,
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shedding tears of sorrow over the fate of him whom they loved. And they
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returned and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment Luke twenty three fifty six,
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that was a never to be forgotten Sabbath to the sorrowing disciples, and
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also to the priests, rulers, scribes, and people. At the setting
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of the sun on the evening of the preparation day, the trumpets sounded,
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signifying that the Sabbath had begun. The passover was observed as it had been
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for centuries, while he to whom it pointed, had been slain by wicked
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hands and lay in Jaildoseph's tomb. On the Sabbath, the courts of the
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temple were filled with worshippers. The high priest from Gogotha was there, splendidly
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robed in a sacradotal garments. White turban priests full of activity befomed their duties.
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But some present were not at rest. As the blood of bulls and
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goats was offered for sin, they were not conscious that type had met antetype,
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that an infinite sacrifice had been made for the sins of the world.
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They knew not that there was no further value in the performance of the ritual
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service. But never before had that service been witnessed with such conflicting feelings.
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The trumpets and musical instruments, and the voices of the singers were as loud
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and clear as usual, but a sense of strangeness pervaded everything. One after
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another inquired about a strange event that had taken place. Hitherto, the Most
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Holy Place had been sacredly guarded from intrusion, but now it was open to
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all eyes. The heavy veil of tapestry, made of pure linen and beautifully
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wrought with gold, scarlet and purple, was rent from top to bottom.
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The place where Jehovah had met with the high priests to communicate his glory.
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The place that had been God's sacred audience chamber, lay open to every eye,
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a place no longer recognized by the Lord. With gloomy presentiments, the
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priests ministered before the altar. The uncovering of the sacred mystery of the Most
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Holy Place filled them with dread of coming calamity. Many minds were busy with
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thoughts started by the scenes of cavalry. From the crucifixion to the resurrection.
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Many sleepless eyes were constantly searching the prophecies, some to learn the full meaning
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of the feasts they were then celebrating, some to find evidence that Jesus was
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not what he claimed to be, and others with sorrowful hearts were searching for
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proofs that he was the true Messiah. Though searching with different objects in view,
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all were convicted of the same truth, that prophecy had been fulfilled in
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the events of the past few days, and that the crucified One was the
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world redeemer. Many who at that time united in the service never again again
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took part in the paschal writes. Many, even of the priests, were
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convicted of the true character of Jesus. Their searching of the prophecies had not
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been in vain, and after his resurrection they acknowledged him as the son of
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God. Nicodemus, when he saw Jesus lifted up on the cross, remembered
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his words spoken by night in the Mount of Olives, as Moses lifted up
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the serpent in the wilderness. Even so must the Son of Man be lifted
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up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
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John three, fourteen fifteen. On that Sabbath, when Christ lay in
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the grave, Nicodemus had opportunity for reflection. A clearer light now illuminated his
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mind, and the words which Jesus had spoken to him were no longer mysterious.
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He felt that he had lost much by not connecting himself with the Savior
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during his life. Now he recalled the events of cavalry, the prayer of
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Christ for his murderers, and his answer to the petition of the dying thief
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spoke to the heart of the learned counselor. Again he looked upon the Savior
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in his agony. Again he heard that last cry, it is finished,
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spoken like the words of a conqueror. Again he beheld the reeling earth,
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the darkened heavens, the rent veil, the shivered rocks, and his faith
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was forever established. The very event that destroyed the hopes of the disciples convinced
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Joseph and Nicodemus of the divinity of Jesus. Their fears were overcome by the
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courage of a firm and unwavering faith. Never at Christ attracted the attention of
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the multitude as now that he was laid in the tomb. According to their
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practice, the people brought their sick and suffering ones to the temple courts,
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inquiring who can tell us of Jesus of Nazareth. Many had come from far
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to find him who had healed the sick and raised the dead. On every
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side was heard the cry, we want Christ the healer. Upon this occasion,
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those who were thought to show indications of the leprosy were examined by the
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priests. Many were forced to hear their husbands, wives, or children pronounced
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lepros and doomed to go forth from the shelter of their homes and the care
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of their friends, to warn off the stranger with the mournful cry unclean,
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unclean. The friendly hands of Jesus of Nazareth, that never refused to touch
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with healing the lowesome leaper, were folded on his breast. The lips that
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had answered his petition with the comforting words I will be thou clean Matthew eight
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three, were now silent. Many appealed to the chief priests and rulers for
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sympathy and relief. But in Vain, apparently they were determined to have the
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living Christ among them again. With persistent earnestness, they asked for him.
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They would not be turned away, but they were driven from the temple courts,
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and soldiers were stationed at the gates to keep back the multitude that came
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with their sick and dying demanding entrance. The sufferers who had come to be
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healed by the Savior sank under their disappointment. The streets were filled with mourning.
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The sick were dying for want of the healing touch of Jesus. Physicians
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were consulted in Vain. There was no skill like that of him who lay
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in Joseph's tomb. The mourning cries of the suffering ones brought home to thousands
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of minds the conviction that a great light had gone out of the world.
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Without Christ, the earth was blackness and darkness. Many whose voices had swelled
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the cry of Crucify Him, Crucify Him, now realized a calamity that had
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fallen upon them, and would as eagerly have cried give us Jesus had he
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still been alive. When the people learned that Jesus had been put to death
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by the priest. Inquiries were made regarding his death. The particulars of his
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trial were kept as private as possible, but during the time when he was
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in the grave, his name was on thousands of lips, and reports of
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his mock trial and of the inhumanity of the priests and rulers were circulated everywhere
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by men of intellect. These priests and rulers were called upon to explain the
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prophecies of the Old Testament concerning the Messiah, and while trying to frame some
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falsehood in reply, they became like men insane. The prophecies appointed to Christ's
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sufferings and death they could not explain, and many inquirers were convinced that the
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scriptures had been fulfilled. The revenge which the priest had thought would be so
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sweet, was already bitterness to them. They knew that they were meeting the
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severe censure of the people. They knew that the very ones whom they had
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influenced against Jesus were now horrified by their own shameful work. These priests had
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tried to believe Jesus a deceiver, but it was in vain. Some of
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them had stood by the grave of Lazarus, and had seen the dead brought
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back to life. They trembled for fear that Christ would himself rise from the
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dead and again appear before them. They had heard him declare that he had
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power to lay down his life and to take it again. They remembered that
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he had said, destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise
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it up. John two nineteen. Judas had told them the words spoken by
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Jesus to the disciples, while on the last journey to Jerusalem. Behold,
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we go up to Jerusalem, and the son of Man shall be betrayed on
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to the chief priest and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to
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death, and shall deliver him to the gentiles to mock and disgorge and to
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crucify him. And the third day he shall rise again Matthew twenty eighteen nineteen.
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When they heard these words, they had mocked and ridiculed. But now
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they remembered that Christ's predictions had so far been fulfilled. He had said that
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he would rise again the third day, and who could say that this also
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would not come to pass. They longed to shut out these thoughts, but
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they could not. Like their father the devil, they believed and trembled.
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Now that the frenzy of excitement was passed, the image of Christ would intrude
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upon their minds. They beheld him as he stood, serene and uncomplaining before
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his enemies, suffering without a murmur their taunts and abuse. All the events
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of his trial and crucifixion came back to them with an overpowering conviction that he
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was the son of God. They felt that he might at any time stand
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before them the accused, to become the accuser, the condemned, to condemn
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the slain, to demand justice and the death of his murderers. They could
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rest little upon the sabbath, though they would not step over a gentile's threshold
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for fear of defilement. Yet they held a council concerning the body of Christ,
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death and the grave must hold him whom they had crucified. The chief
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priests and pharisees came together unto pilots, saying, sir, we remember that
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that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, after three days, I
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will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulcher be made sure until the third
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day, lest his disciples come by night and steal him away and say,
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unto the people, he has risen from the dead, So the last heir
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shall be worse than the first pilot said unto them, ye have a watch,
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go your way, make it as sure as you can Matthew twenty seven,
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sixty two to sixty five. The priest gave directions for securing the sepulcher.
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A great stone had been placed before the opening. Across this stone they
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placed cords securing the ends to the solid rock and sealing them with the Roman
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seal. The stone could not be moved without breaking the seal. A guard
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of one hundred soldiers was then stationed around the sepulcher to prevent it from being
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tampered with. The priests did all they could to keep Christ's body where it
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had been laid. He was sealed as securely in his tomb as if he
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were to remain there through all time. So weak men counseled and planned.
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Little did these murderers realize the uselessness of their efforts, But by their action
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God was glorified. The very efforts made to prevent Christ's resurrection are the most
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convincing arguments in its proof. The greater the number of soldiers placed around the
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tomb. The stronger would be the testimony that he had risen hundreds of years
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before the death of Christ. The Holy Spirit had declared through the Psalmist,
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Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings
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of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord
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and against us anointed. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh. The
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Lord shall have them in derision Psalms too one to four. Roman guards and
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Roman arms were powerless to confine the Lord of Life within the tomb. The
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hour of his release was near end of chapter eighty