Lent day 32

They are re-burying Richard 3rd this week amongst much pomp and circumstance.

Everyone knew he was killed at the battle of Bosworth - it was well chronicled and there were plenty of eye witnesses who saw the poor chap meet his rather grizzly end.  It was also known that he was hastily buried in Greyfriars in Leicester - and that his resting place was lost in the chaos of the Reformation.   It took 500 years for him to be found again.  And this week we shall watch the last of the Plantaganet kings be given a right royal re-burial in Leicester Cathedral.  Im sure it will be quite a spectacle

2000 years ago another King was killed on the field of battle.  His death was witnessed and recorded by many.  He too was placed in a makeshift grave.  But unlike Richard, his bones have never been found.  Despite many many people standing to gain massively from being able to produce them almost from the moment of his death.

The Romans knew where Jesus was buried - they posted soldiers at the tomb to guard if from possible grave robbers.  They knew fine well that there was the possibility that someone would want to remove his body for political or religious purposes and they were determined to avoid that at all costs.  

Jesus's followers knew where He was buried.  They had taken Him down from the cross and hastily prepared His body just before the sabbath started.  They were ready to complete the process after the sabbath had finished.   The final resting place was not a secret.

The religious authorities also knew where He was.  They were glad to see the back of Him and thought that His death nipped in the bud a possible dangerous and difficult uprising.  They had a vested interest in being able to prove He was dead and buried - gone for good.  Over and done with.  Ended and finished.  Full stop.

And yet..... and yet....

When it came to the crunch the Romans and the religious authorities were unable to bring out the body or bones of Jesus.   And for the past 2000 years nobody has been able to do that either.
Because there are no bones.  There is no body.  Three days after interment Jesus walked out of His tomb and a short while later He bodily ascended into heaven.

So this week as we watch an English King being laid to rest in the pomp and ceremony of a regal funeral service let us rejoice that we worship a risen Lord.  His bones are with the rest of Him seated at the right hand of the Father.  He is the only risen, everlasting, eternal King.  And He is ours.