The Garden Tomb – The Sagacity Of Patience (9/12) Series

Message by Eddie Fernandes

Introduction

(Click intro title) We are in a 12-part series titled: REFLECTIONS ON THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS. It will end on SUNDAY JULY 26. I am about to preach the 9th message in that series. I will start my sermon in a rather unusual way today. Firstly HOWEVER, I will have no Scripture passages on the screen and no Powerpoint support. This is intentional and there’s a hidden reason in the message. Before we begin let’s do a recap of the first 8 messages:

1. The Last Supper – The centrality of Fellowship (1/12)

2. The Garden of Gethsemane – The vitality of Intercession (2/12)

3. The Sanhedrin – The cruelty of Injustice (3/12)

4. The High Priest’s Courtyard – The essentiality of Forgiveness (4/12)

5. The Via Dolorosa – The universality of Suffering (5/12)

6. The Via Sacra – The nobility of Service (6/12)

7. The place of the skull – The scarcity of Essentials (7/12)

8. The Mount of Calvary – The necessity of Trust (8/12)

9. The Garden Tomb – The sagacity of Patience (9/12) is today’s message.

Let’s begin. This jar was recently used to trap butterflies to amuse and educate my grandchildren. They loved seeing their avô running around like a lunatic chasing butterflies. They were even more fascinated when I actually caught 5 of them. Zeek screamed out in delight: “vô you are overweight but really fast!” At the end of the lesson we set them free.

Today the jar is filled with soil. First I am going to open the lid. (open). Next I am going to plant a seed in the rich soil (plant). Now add a little water (water), and now I am going to do what thousands of Christians do every day. “Seed grow!” “Hey, I said sprout and grow”. Maybe that’s not the right approach. Let’s try the Word of Faith approach: “seed, by the authority in me invested I command thee to grow!” Boy this seed is stubborn and has no faith. Maybe I need the magic formula: “Satan I command you to release this seed, I rebuke everything that stands in the way, I declare and decree growth, so be it and nothing can impede it, GROW in the mighty name of Jesus!”

And all of you are looking at me like I have gone mad. Some are even thinking: “he went in for treatment at the cancer hospital this week and the stuff they injected in his body has messed with his small brain.” No, my friends. I am okay. No side effects…yet! What is not okay is this approach to spirituality that is used by believers around the world.

Every farmer knows that once the seed is planted the waiting begins. There is nothing the farmer can do once his job is completed. It is all up to nature. It’s all in God’s hands as the Creator who set seasons, laws and all the forces in motion for this seed to blossom and eventually develop into a shrub.

Former vs Current disciples

The disciples were like every one of us. They did not have the sagacity of patience. Sagacity is the quality of being discerning, sound in judgment, farsighted and wise. Jesus had prepared them. He had told them that He would be planted in the earth like a seed. He instructed them to wait three days. They didn’t even wait one day! They fled the scene terrified they too would be killed. When they found out the Messiah was dead they went into hiding. Unbelief, doubt, sadness, anger, disappointment and an overwhelming sense of hopelessness engulfed them Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

According to Mark many women were present at the crucifixion. Except for John, all of the men had fled the scene and took to hiding. The women remained firm and steadfast. Mark 15:40-41: “Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome. In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.”

On Sunday morning the women were also the first to testify that He had risen from the dead. The same three women are mentioned: Mark 16:1-2: “When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb.”

Here’s my theory: Jesus used women because women are far more patient than men. And all the ladies said: Amen! Women know that the seed planted once planted deep inside their wombs takes a long 9 months to develop in the darkness, much like this seed in this jar. I don’t think men would have such patience. When the time comes to give birth women also know they are in for what can turn into long hours of labor before they see the tiny head of their offshoot breaking through into light of day.