Turmoil At The Tomb

The crowd was beyond imagination. The audience at the tomb was innumerable. But we all assume that no one was there except a few guards posted by the Roman governor. The Jews were afraid someone might come to steal the body of Jesus, crucified that Friday. He hinted that he would rise again in three days. So they wanted to be sure that his determined little band of followers could not heist the body and keep that rumor growing. In reality, the few loyal followers of Jesus were devastated, alarmed, and hiding in fear. All their hopes and dreams were dashed. Utterly confused by the crucifixion, they thought their faith and trust in Jesus was for naught.

But God’s eternal plan had its vortex in those three days. All spiritual hell broke loose and all heavenly power was displayed. Despite the earthquake, the darkness, the curtain of the temple torn in two, those in Jerusalem saw only what was observable on the surface of things. The Jewish leaders thought they had put to death a false prophet, a great blasphemer. While for Jesus’ followers hope seemed dead. Along with the man they thought was Messiah.

God said at the beginning of time a truth that was fulfilled in those three days. One who would come from the seed of Eve would have his heel bruised by Satan, but that promised one would crush the head of the serpent.

Some years ago a girl whom we were helping to be set free from serious demonic possession had a particular demon manifest to her outside the high school one afternoon. He tricked her into looking at a demonic object, a sigil of sorts, and let her go on. As she continued her walk to the church to come for some counseling a snake slithered out in front of her. She stopped to watch it. Suddenly its head crushed. It exploded, she said. She told me about both things when she arrived. I told her of the prophecy of Genesis 3:15, and explained the profound image God had just shown her. Several days later a poor innocent little snake walked across my own path. Reluctantly, but with purpose, I stepped on its head and crushed it. And as I did it I spoke out loud to Satan and his spiritual realm. “Satan, you are defeated and sealed for destruction. You and all your hosts. By God’s grace you have no authority over me, or over anyone who stands against you in the name of Jesus.”

So now picture the crowds, the innumerable throngs of beings who were congregated all around the tomb. The hosts of demons, the legions of misguided and duped beings who chose allegiance to Satan. They knew the prophecies. They knew what Jesus had said. Yet they thought they had won. They thought they had put to death the Son of God. They thought that God’s eternal plan of the ages was foiled. God, they were convinced, had underestimated how effective they could be in persuading the hearts and minds of the Jewish leaders, the political figures, and the throngs of the descendants of Abraham who trusted those leaders. They had won. They were celebrating. Dancing, slapping each other on the back, congratulating. Getting drunk in their own blind glory.

But then came Sunday. All of creation had been in turmoil for two days, but the third day dawned eerily quiet. A hush fell over the legions of Satan’s minions. They watched and waited. And waited. And when God’s power broke forth in all its eternal glory it was witnessed only by this horrible throng. The tombstone moved. It wasn’t visible at first. But they heard it. It creaked and groaned as it ground, ever so slightly against the rock of the hillside. The groans grew steady and the stone began to roll. They could see it. Little by little it rolled back. They stood in silence, disbelief, and defeat. Then the unthinkable. Overwhelming dismay. Bright, glorious, alive, and victorious, Jesus walked out of the tomb. He didn’t float, he walked. He wasn’t mere spirit, he was alive. They fled. Every last one of them. Yelling, screaming, accusing, back stabbing, disgraced. Celebration turned to turmoil

On the cross Jesus said, “It is finished”. The price was paid, the blood shed, our sins forgiven, redemption accomplished. They, the host of demons, did not believe it, nor could they comprehend it. In front of the tomb Jesus declared, “It now begins. Death is conquered. Grace is real and it is full of power. Try all you want to come against my saints, now, but they are mine. And your doom is sealed.”

Turmoil at the tomb. So, so much more than what met the human eye. Power that creaked and slowly rolled a stone the distance of some five or six feet. Then the vortex of eternity was fulfilled. Jesus stepped out from the grave. Our hope, our eternal life. our forever salvation. Ours, by trust alone. Do you believe?

Savior, He can move the mountains,
My God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save
Forever, author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave, Jesus conquered the grave.
(from the song “Mighty to Save”, by Hillsong)