JUST AFTER THE CRUCIFIXTION:
PSALM 30:5b weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
The week before Jesus went to the cross and died in sinful mans place many things had taken place: Mary anointed the feet of Christ, the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, Christ cleansing of the Temple of the den of thieves as HE referred to them, the confrontation with the religious leaders as he called them hypocrites, the betrayal of Judas in that he made a deal with the Pharisees for 30 pieces of silver as he carried them to the Garden of Gethsemane & there he kissed Jesus showing the Pharisees just exactly who Jesus was in order for his arrest , the mock trial and scourging then of coarse the crucifixion.
Mary the mother of Jesus mourned. All nature shuddered at the death of the Creator in the earthquake and darkness was over the entire earth from 12-3 pm.
We’ve all heard the saying that it’s always darkest before the dawn.
I. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
The disciples had hoped that Christ was the long expected Messiah. They were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. They had looked forward to His setting up the kingdom and their participation in the governing of that kingdom.
And let me remind us here that the 12 apostles will sit on thrones and judge the 12 tribes of Israel according to Matt.19: 28And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
But now as Jesus was crucified all that appeared to them to be gone forever, as they didn’t understand yet what all this was really all about, they didn’t understand that this was the very reason Jesus came into the world, but they would understand soon. Jesus said in JN.12: 27Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
To the disciples separation from Jesus and all their many comforting thoughts and plans looked as if it was gone forever.
Now Mary Son Jesus lifeless body lay in a cold garden tomb. A great stone had been placed across the entrance to the tomb pointing out the separation of the living from the dead.
Accompanying this separation was the feeling of loneliness, the kind of loneliness that is brought on by despair, the loneliness that we might feel although you may be in the midst of a crowd.
Mary Magdalene sensed the same mournful feelings of loneliness and separation as she came to the tomb of Christ and the angels ask her in John 20:13 13And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
It seems that the Promises of Jesus had been forgotten.
. Jesus Christ had given to His followers a number of promises concerning the events related to His death, promises they had forgotten. They became desponded & depressed because they had forgotten what He had said.
He said He would rise again - Luke 18:31-34 31Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. 32For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 33And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 34And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things, which were spoken.
He said when He would rise again - Matthew 12: 38-40 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
He had said that death had no power over Him - John 10:17 – 18 17Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
He said He was the Source of Life - John 11:25 – 26 25Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
He said He would not leave them alone - John 14:18 – 19 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
It may be that some of us have forgotten the promises that Christ has made to us. Promises to never leave us. (Hebrews 13:5 5Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.).
Promises to meet our needs (Philippians 4:19 19But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.).
Promises of comfort and protection (John 14:16-17 16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.).
Remember our text verse found in PS.30:b weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
This was the devils defeat; darkness gave way to dawning on that Resurrection Morning.
1 Corinthians 15:17 – 19 17And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable
If Christ remained in the grave , then we would have good reason to mourn & fear, But thanks be to God for the fact that joy came in the morning.
Mark 16:1 – 7 1And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, [a brother of Jesus] and Salome, [marys sister and mother of James & John; wife of Zebudee] had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. 3And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? 4And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. 5And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. 6And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. 7But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
Too make a point:
[[[ On the evening of June 18, 1815 a man stood in the tower of England’s Winchester Cathedral gazing anxiously out to sea. At last he found what he was looking for - a ship sending a signal by use of lights. He strained to see the message.
All of England held its breath with him, wanting to know the outcome of the war between their military leader, the Duke of Wellington, and the French dictator Napoleon Bonaparte.
Bonaparte, who had once ruled all of Europe bar England remained a threat, and now the decisive Battle of Waterloo had been fought.
So, as he stood in the tower of Winchester Cathedral the man waited to relay the news that would determine England’s future.
The signal came just as a heavy fog was rolling in. and the only signal that got through was, "Wellington defeated---" The man signaled to other stations and the news spread across the countryside quickly, bringing great gloom and sadness.
But then the fog lifted, and the message was sent again, this time in full: "Wellington defeated the enemy". ]]]
Wellington had won!
~~On the day of Christ’s crucifixion it seemed the message was to Jesus followers, "Christ defeated", but three days later they discovered that the message had not been received in full.
The resurrection reverses what many at that time thought was the end of Jesus and all His promises and declares, "Christ defeated the enemy!"~~~~
We that are saved have eternal life now as we are fellowshipping together around these wonderful truths, let’s never be in doubt brothers & sisters, lets realize the victory has been won.
Romans 8:37 – 39 37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:55 – 57 57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
