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Chapter 80—Jesus Rests in Joseph’s Tomb
At last the long day of shame and torture was ended. As the
setting sun ushered in the Sabbath, the Son of God rested in Joseph’s
tomb, His work completed.
In the beginning the Father and the Son had rested on the Sabbath
after their work of creation. See
Genesis 2:1
. All heavenly beings
rejoiced in contemplation of the glorious scene. Now Jesus rested
from the work of redemption; and though there was grief among
those who loved Him on earth, there was joy in heaven. God and
angels saw a redeemed race that, having conquered sin, could never
fall—this, the result to flow from Christ’s completed work.
When there shall be a “restitution of all things” (
Acts 3:21
), the
creation Sabbath, the day on which Jesus lay at rest in Joseph’s
tomb, will still be a day of rest and rejoicing. “From one Sabbath to
another” (
Isaiah 66:23
) the nations of the saved shall bow in joyful
worship to God and the Lamb.
In the closing events of the crucifixion day, new witness was
borne to Christ’s divinity. When the Saviour’s dying cry had been
uttered, another voice was heard, saying, “Truly this was the Son of
God.”
Matthew 27:54
.
These words were said in no whispered tones. Who had spoken?
It was the centurion, the Roman soldier. The divine patience of
the Saviour, His sudden death, the cry of victory on His lips, had
impressed this heathen. In the broken body hanging on the cross,
the centurion recognized the Son of God. On the very day of the
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Redeemer’s death, three men had declared their faith—he who com-
manded the Roman guard, he who bore His cross, and he who died
at His side.
As evening drew on, an unearthly stillness hung over Calvary.
Many had flocked to the crucifixion from curiosity, not from hatred
toward Christ. Still they looked on Christ as a malefactor. Under
unnatural excitement they had united in railing against Him. But
when the earth was wrapped in blackness, they felt guilty of a great
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