Jesus buried

Today is Maundy Thursday. Maundy literally means “washing feet” and refers to the night when Jesus and the disciples were together for the last time, when he and they stood in the shadow of the cross, when he washed their feet and instituted the Holy Supper.
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On this Thursday night before Good Friday, we traditionally celebrate the “Tenebrae Service”. Tenebrae is the Latin word for darkness. We meet tonight at 19:00 (7pm) at the Centurion West Presbyterian Church for this beautiful and meaningful service with lots of symbolism.

Tonight we will be asked to meditate on the meaning of the suffering of Christ for our lives through an experience that relates to the gloom he faced and endured. The gradual extinguishing of the lights during this service is symbolic of the advancing darkness that came over Jesus: with the flight of the disciples, the bitter hate of his enemies, the looming shadow of the cross. The moments of total darkness during the service recalls the time when he was in the tomb. The relighting of the central candle is a prophecy of Easter so soon to dawn.

On Good Friday we meet again, at 09:30, to remember his crucifixion and death for our sake when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
Looking forward to share this spiritual pilgrimage over the next four days with you!


Devotion for Maundy Thursday.
Jesus is Placed in the Tomb

Luke 23:50-54: Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph… This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning.

The burial of Jesus makes it absolutely clear that Jesus really died on the cross. It also explains the place from which Jesus was raised.

The Sabbath was beginning, Luke wrote. Jesus “rested” in the tomb, because all his work of suffering for us was done. It may seem that everything is lost, but he would rise again.
It was on the Friday that he died.
But Sunday is coming…

We died with Christ and our old sinful man is buried with him. A new man, the new day, is imminent.
The resurrection Sunday of our life in Jesus, is soon to dawn.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, we remember that you really died. You experienced the ultimate penalty for our sin, for my sin. Your real death opened up the door for me to experience real life. Faced with such a merciful mystery, I cry: "Amazing love! How can it be, that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?" Amen!