LHM Devotion - March 28, 2018 - Are You Sure He's Dead?

Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Are You Sure He's Dead?"

Mar. 28, 2018

Read John 19:31-37

But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.

~ John 19:34 (ESV)

They wanted to be sure He was dead. So one of the soldiers took a spear and stabbed Jesus in the side, bringing out a flow of blood and water. This was good proof He was dead, because blood doesn't separate that way, into red blood cells and clear plasma, until a body is no longer living. The soldiers were satisfied, and Pilate let Jesus' body be taken down.

If you think of it, they went to an awful lot of trouble to make sure Jesus was dead and to keep Him dead (so to speak). First the public crucifixion. Then the spear to the heart, which John witnessed. Finally the official sealing of the tomb, to make sure nobody came and stole His body and claimed He was alive again. And a guard, to enforce that.

And yet, after all that, it did no good. All their maneuvering couldn't keep Jesus in the tomb. The nails in the hands, the spear in the chest -- Jesus turned those into proof of His identity when He met His frightened disciples after the resurrection. The seal on the tomb? Jesus didn't bother to open the tomb door when He left, so the seal and soldiers may have been perfectly intact when He left. Until the earthquake, anyway, and the angel who rolled away the stone and sat on it.

It is impossible to prevent Jesus from doing whatever He wants to do, and this is true even today. A set of nails and a spear to the heart couldn't do it. A sealed and guarded tomb couldn't keep Him in one place. Neither can your sin or mine.

For Christ is not dead now, and never will be again. He comes and goes as He pleases -- forgiving and giving new life to everybody who believes in Him. If He wants you (and He does), your sin will not keep Him from loving you or from calling you to be His own. He has already paid the price for your forgiveness with His own life. Trust in Him.

THE PRAYER: Dear God, I'm glad no one can control You. Keep me always in Your safekeeping. Amen.

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How do you know if someone is dead?