Low in the Grave He Lay
Introduction
When the gospel comes to mind or into conversation, I think it’s fair to say that the events and aspects of Jesus’ work that are most highlighted are his death and his resurrection. Praise God for these! Jesus died, paying for the sins of his people. He rose again, securing his victory over death and, by extension, the victory of all who place their trust in him.
Something interesting struck me this week as I went through the process of preparing the sermon for next Lord’s Day: every gospel account makes detailed mention of Jesus’ burial; not just his death and resurrection, but also his burial.
Something interesting struck me this week as I went through the process of preparing the sermon for next Lord’s Day: every gospel account makes detailed mention of Jesus’ burial; not just his death and resurrection, but also his burial.
He was Buried...
Why is that? Isn’t it enough to say that he died and rose again? Why do we need to know about Joseph of Arimathea and his friend, Nicodemus? Does it really matter that they took his body, brought it to a freshly-masoned tomb, wrapped him in a new linen shroud, and adorned his body with 75 pounds of aloes and myrrh? Admittedly, we might think, “Sheesh. These details all could have been summed up in a lot fewer words.”
I want to write this brief post today to make the assertion that Jesus’ burial matters. I believe it matters because God thinks it matters.
I want to write this brief post today to make the assertion that Jesus’ burial matters. I believe it matters because God thinks it matters.
Union with Christ
Look at Romans 6.
Romans 6:3–4
[3] Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? [4] We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (ESV)
This passage helps us in our understanding of the doctrine of our “Union with Christ,” a biblical understanding that everything Jesus did counts for all who are joined to him by faith. When he lived his life perfectly, it’s as if we were there, joined to him. When he died in our place, we were there with him. When he rose again, we rose with him. Ephesians even goes so far as to say that we are currently seated with him on high as he reigns! But Paul mentions more than these in Romans 6. He takes time to say that we were buried with him. We should wonder why we needed to be.
Romans 6:3–4
[3] Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? [4] We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (ESV)
This passage helps us in our understanding of the doctrine of our “Union with Christ,” a biblical understanding that everything Jesus did counts for all who are joined to him by faith. When he lived his life perfectly, it’s as if we were there, joined to him. When he died in our place, we were there with him. When he rose again, we rose with him. Ephesians even goes so far as to say that we are currently seated with him on high as he reigns! But Paul mentions more than these in Romans 6. He takes time to say that we were buried with him. We should wonder why we needed to be.
A New Life
Fortunately, the text tells us. We were buried with Jesus so that “...we too might walk in newness of life.” Stop and think about this. Any person who is united to Jesus in his burial is a person who has left his sin in the grave.
When Jesus entered the tomb, he took our sin with him. He came out alive again, and similarly, we are meant to live in “newness,” even now! This means that while we of course still struggle in the fight against our sin, we are a people who live according to the reality that our sin has been dealt with and remains in the tomb, where it belongs.
Go with me a step further. If our sin was left in the tomb, that means we cannot be comfortable still embracing rebellion or making special allowances for wickedness. We can’t say, “Jesus paid for my sin” one moment, only to turn around and hate our brother in Christ the next moment, for example. When we do this, it is as if we are going back to the tomb, entering into darkness, dusting off our sin and carrying it out again.
To embrace the “old you,” the one that was crucified and buried with Christ, is like walking around with a corpse draped over your shoulders.
Christian, how can there be room any longer for perpetual lust, greed, hate, envy, and bitterness in your life? Perhaps you need a reminder that when Jesus entered the tomb, he did so on your behalf, and now you are meant to live in a way that is repulsed by the sin left in the tomb. This short post is not a call to live in perfection. You aren’t able. This is a call to view our sin rightly. God viewed it so seriously that he sent it to the grave with his Son, who left it there to rot while he emerged glorious.
When Jesus entered the tomb, he took our sin with him. He came out alive again, and similarly, we are meant to live in “newness,” even now! This means that while we of course still struggle in the fight against our sin, we are a people who live according to the reality that our sin has been dealt with and remains in the tomb, where it belongs.
Go with me a step further. If our sin was left in the tomb, that means we cannot be comfortable still embracing rebellion or making special allowances for wickedness. We can’t say, “Jesus paid for my sin” one moment, only to turn around and hate our brother in Christ the next moment, for example. When we do this, it is as if we are going back to the tomb, entering into darkness, dusting off our sin and carrying it out again.
To embrace the “old you,” the one that was crucified and buried with Christ, is like walking around with a corpse draped over your shoulders.
Christian, how can there be room any longer for perpetual lust, greed, hate, envy, and bitterness in your life? Perhaps you need a reminder that when Jesus entered the tomb, he did so on your behalf, and now you are meant to live in a way that is repulsed by the sin left in the tomb. This short post is not a call to live in perfection. You aren’t able. This is a call to view our sin rightly. God viewed it so seriously that he sent it to the grave with his Son, who left it there to rot while he emerged glorious.
Conclusion
Our union with Jesus in his burial should make us grateful. It should make us humble. It should make us patient with others in the church, especially those who challenge us in a variety of ways. After all, their sin was left in the tomb, too. In fact, it might be stacked right on top of ours...
Resurrection Sunday is coming very quickly. Don’t forget, Christian, from where Jesus emerged victorious. He came out of the tomb, and he left your sin there. According to his power at work in us, let’s live like it.
Resurrection Sunday is coming very quickly. Don’t forget, Christian, from where Jesus emerged victorious. He came out of the tomb, and he left your sin there. According to his power at work in us, let’s live like it.
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