the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
John Gossner's Treasury
Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulcher, wherein was never man yet laid. And Joseph took the body and laid it in his own new tomb. John 19:40-41. Matthew 27:59-60.
The sufferings of Christ began in a garden and ended in a garden. Blessed garden that received His body, sacrificed for us! Blessed grave above all other graves, that contained His body, who shall call forth and quicken all who lie in graves unto the resurrection of life or of judgment! Blessed Joseph to whom it was given to take down the body of Jesus from the cross and lay it in that new tomb! Who would not envy thee? And yet we have much more than thou hast, when we by faith have Christ dwelling in our hearts when we in the sacrament receive the living body of Jesus in our hearts. Oh, that our hearts may cease to be sepulchres of sin! May our hearts become the sepulchres of Christ, to contain Him forever, swathed in faith, and sealed forever with His ardent love! May we bear in mind what St. Paul says: ’’Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death" (Romans 6:3-4). He repeats this in another place (Colossians 2:12). We should no more serve sin, no more let sin rule over us. By Christ’s death we are dead and crucified from sin, and have borne sin to its grave. Do not revive it, beloved. Let sin continue to be slain and buried through all eternity. Cast out of your hearts the dead body of sin and evil desires, and receive Jesus, that He may forever live and rule in you.
Jesus, tender Savior,
Hast Thou died for me?
Make me very thankful
In my heart to Thee.
When the sad, sad story
Of Thy grief I read.
Make me very sorry
For my sins indeed.
Now I know Thou livest,
And dost plead for me;
Make me very thankful
In my prayers to Thee.
Soon I hope in glory
At Thy side to stand;
Make me fit to meet Thee
In that happy land.
