No Crying He Makes, Luke: 23:50-56
Verses 50 and 51 describe Joseph of Arimathea is beautiful terms. “ÖJoseph, who, though a member of the council, had not agreed to their plan and action”. He was a believer who “was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God.” (v 51b). Believers must bring the truth of Jesus and his teaching to government, rather than “baptizing” the “righteousness” of oppressive and unjust laws. Waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God must affect how we live and relate to the kingdoms of this world. Indeed, the kingdom of God is at hand. This lesson from Joseph is too often lost in the story of his offering his own tomb for the burial of Jesus.
Joseph asked for the body, then properly wrapped the body “in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid” (v 53). Strange echoes fill our ears and hearts.
No Crying He Makes
Again, God’s Son sleeps.
Again, no crying he makes.
Again, his body is wrapped against the cold.
Where are the shepherds?
Where are the kings?
Joseph, where are you?
Angels guard the door, but not one angel sings.
Where is the hay for this cold room?
Every manger knows a tomb, my Jesus,
Every manger knows a tomb.
God does not slumber,
But God’s Son sleeps
Death’s cold dark sleep.
God’s Son sleeps.
No crying he makes.
His body is wrapped against the cold.
Again, we thank you for the gift of your Son.
A word about the series
The Lenten season has always inspired many people to create everything from poems, art and music to a completely new direction in their lives. This Lenten season Tabernacle will be exploring many of those creations in the hope of inspiring you to compose in a medium that is natural for you. The paintings in the Sanctuary are of the Biblical Stations of the Cross. The artist, Grieg Leach, completed them in 2010. They will help us to visualize the events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus. In addition to the paintings there is a Lenten devotional booklet, Return to Me, which is available in print or online. The Stations of the Cross also inspired these devotions, written by Terry York of Baylor University. Living with these two bodies of artistic expression based on the Biblical Stations of the Cross throughout the season of Lent should help us as we seek to return our lives to God by walking with Jesus though his final days.
Pray, read, think and return to God.
All scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible.
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