Holy Saturday!

For Holy Saturday, April 16, 2022:

Matthew 27:64 NLT: “We, the leading priests and Pharisees, request that you, Pilate, seal the tomb of Jesus until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.”

You see, this entire mess – the torture and the crucifixion of Jesus – was a conspiracy. It was a grab for power and money. God and religion never figured into their scheme. It was about personal gain and position. The promised Messiah had arrived and was gathering believers, which displaced them from the traditional Temple leaders, those who knew all the law but did not exhibit any love for their fellows.

Today, Jesus puts into motion what we call “The Great Exchange,” whereby he takes the sin of the world to the place of the dead, and replaces it with forgiveness, holiness and purity, leaving believers suitable to take up residency in God’s eternal kingdom.

Jesus exchanged our sin for righteousness. Jesus brought hope to our world. Tomorrow, Easter, Resurrection Sunday, he rises from the dead, just as he predicted!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406