At last Jesus was at rest. The long day of shame and torture was ended. As the last rays of the setting sun ushered in the Sabbath, the Son of God lay in quietude in Josephs tomb. His work completed, His hands folded in peace, He rested through the sacred hours of the Sabbath day. In the beginning the Father and the Son had rested upon the Sabbath after Their work of creation. When the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them (Gen. 2:1), the Creator and all heavenly beings rejoiced in contemplation of the glorious scene. The morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy. Job 38:7. Now Jesus rested from the work of redemption; and though there was grief among those who loved Him on earth, yet there was joy in heaven. Glorious to the eyes of heavenly beings was the promise of the future. A restored creation, a redeemed race, that having conquered sin could never fall,--this, the result to flow from Christs completed work, God and angels saw. With this scene the day upon which Jesus rested is forever linked. For His work is perfect; and whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever. Deut. 32:4; Eccl. 3:14. When there shall be a restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began (Acts 3:21), the creation Sabbath, the day on which Jesus lay at rest in Josephs tomb, will still be a day of rest and rejoicing. Heaven and earth will unite in praise, as from one Sabbath to another (Isa. 66:23) the nations of the saved shall bow in joyful worship to God and the Lamb. In the closing events of the crucifixion day, fresh evidence was given of the fulfillment of prophecy, and new witness borne to Christs divinity. When the darkness had lifted from the cross, and the Saviours dying cry had been uttered, immediately another voice was heard, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. Matt. 27:54. These words were said in no whispered tones. All eyes were turned to see whence they came. Who had spoken? It was the centurion, the Roman soldier. The divine patience of the Saviour, and His sudden death, with the cry of victory upon His lips, had impressed this heathen. In the bruised, broken body hanging upon the cross, the centurion recognized the form of the Son of God. He could not refrain from confessing his faith. Thus again evidence was given that our Redeemer was to see of the travail of His soul. Upon the very day of His death, three men, differing widely from one another, had declared their faith,--he who commanded the Roman guard, he who bore the cross of the Saviour, and he who died upon the cross at His side. - Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, Chapter 80 - In Josephs Tomb, page 769-770 [This chapter is based on Matthew 27:54; John 19:34-37; Luke 23:46; 23:56; Matthew 27:62-65.]
Posted on: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 09:34:53 +0000
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