embonpoint by jenny downing
A small rickety cart pulls up outside the darkened house. Large heavy jugs are carried inside the wealthy Nicodemus’s home and the door is quickly closed. Unplugging the jugs the women reach in and scoop their hands in the ointment they are going to rub on their King.The dead limp body lies helpless on the table. Wiped clean with tears of love, the scars, the puncture wounds are all to be seen.
Fragrance wafts around the room. 100lbs (45kg) of anointing oils are massaged into the shroud. The King is wrapped in perfume. The final lingering memory is one of scent.
The body is carried to a cave, placed on a shelf, left all alone, gone forever. Tears drip on the ground where the stone will soon become a plug. No light in, no light out.
Anointing one complete.
The servant King has been bid farewell.Dust stirs, air movement, breathe of heaven flowing in.
Anointing number two is underway.
Energy flowing, light coming to penetrate darkness. Spirit dancing, flowing, weaving, excited in expectancy of this welcome back to life. Father’s arms out wide, welcoming and warm.Satan in stunned despair.
The fragrant clothes are politely unwrapped and placed on the shelf.
Body now pink and glowing, brilliant light dazzling, blinding to mortal eyes.
Soldiers unconscious as the stone is rolled away.
Someone had to live to experience death.
Someone had to die so someone could experience life.
Two anointing's for the King. One in sorrow, one in joy.
Anointed resurrection power still breaks through our stony hearts, boxed dogmatic views, and human fears.Resurrection Sunday is the day that shouts ‘Change is possible’ and we at this moment have only but tasted a small sample of what Christ the risen saviour can do.
How is resurrection power transforming your life? Leave a comment below.
Want to read more? Download my sermon Death precedes Resurrection in free resources.
Barry Pearman
Get a copy of my Free eBook The Unguided Pastoral Missile
Image by Jenny Downing Creative commons Flicker
Blogger Labels: hope,Easter,Large,Nicodemus,door,jugs,women,ointment,Fragrance,room,memory,shelf,Tears,servant,farewell,Dust,heaven,Energy,Spirit,expectancy,life,Father,Satan,Body,Soldiers,death,resurrection,Change,moment,Christ,saviour,Leave,Want,Download,sermon,resources,Barry,Pearman,Image,Jenny,Creative,commons,Flicker
