His Time in the Tomb

Jesus’ time in the tomb is a mystery. How were His graveclothes removed? How long was He there before He descended into hell? How long was He in hell? Did the angels greet Him after He had already come back to life—or did He come back to life after they rolled the stone away?

We know that on Friday afternoon Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate to request the dead body of Jesus. Pilate checked to make sure Jesus was actually dead. Then Joseph, when he had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb. . . . (Mt. 27:59-60a NKJV). One of the other Gospels mentions that Nicodemus helped Joseph.

On Sunday morning, Jesus left the grave alive.

The impossible happened. A man rose from the dead. He rose victorious over the grave and death. And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. (I Cor. 15:45)

Originally published April 12, 1993.

Captivity Captive?

Paul quoted Ps. 68:18 in his letter to the Ephersians: When He [Jesus] ascended on high He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men. (Eph. 4:8 NKJV) Because that sounds confusing to our minds, let’s look briefly at what it means to lead captivity captive.

Captivity is a condition of severe restraint or bondage. Spiritual captivity is bondage to sin. It means being overwhelmed or overcome by the power of sin’s influence. People in spiritual captivity experience loss of moral freedom. They can’t choose good for pure or holy reasons.

Satan is the master-mind behind all captivity. He wants to imprison people—rob them of God’s blessings, but Jesus defeated Satan when He shed His blood on Calvary.

When Jesus ascended on high, He entered heaven as the victor over Satan. Since that occasion, no one has had to remain a captive under Satan’s control. Because, He led captivity captive.

Originally published February 16, 1990.
Picture: Cactus in bloom, Arizona Desert, 2008. Photo by Patty.

Jesus' Dominion

When God made man, He said, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish . . . fowl . . . every living thing that moveth. . . . (Gen. 1:28 KJV)

That commission changed drastically after Adam and Eve sinned. When God gave a commission to Noah, He said, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. And the fear of you shall be upon every beast . . . fowl . . . all that moveth . . . fishes of the sea. (Gen. 9:1,2 KJV) Dominion had been lost; it was replaced by fear.

But not permanently. Jesus regained dominion by defeating Satan. David prophesied this when he wrote, What is man that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? . . . Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands . . . sheep and oxen . . . beasts . . . fowl . . . fish . . . O Lord our Lord, How excellent is thy name in all the earth! (Ps. 8:4,6a-8 KJV)

The psalm can apply to us. Christ's victory can be our victory if we align ourselves with Him. O Lord our Lord, How excellent is thy name in all the earth! (Ps. 8:9 KJV)

Originally published January 31, 1986.

Picture: Flower in Thailand, 2007. Photo by Patty