Word for Wednesday
Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. John 19:41
The earth is 150 million kilometers from the sun, on average. An interesting fact about that distance is that the earth’s southern hemisphere receives more heat than the northern hemisphere, because of the tilt of the earth’s axis. But the southern hemisphere has much more ocean, and is able to accommodate the extra amount of heat. If the earth were ten thousand kilometers nearer to the sun, very little on the planet could survive the heat. If it were ten thousand kilometers away from the sun, most of earth’s life would freeze. The reason I am pointing out these things is to show how precisely our God placed our planet for our survival. God’s attention to details is amazing. We see this in our text today, where, against all odds, a sepulchre was where it needed to be for Jesus’ burial.
The need for a new tomb with no previous occupants was critical to proving that Jesus, and only Jesus, came forth from it. Everything about the crucifixion and death of our Saviour was so ordered that the sepulchre was available. God leaves nothing to chance, even to the ownership of the sepulchre. All was in order to preserve the dignity and the security of the body in preparation for the resurrection. If God can so direct the details concerning earth’s greatest event, can He not order the details of our daily sojourning?
We have no coincidences in our lives. Everything that occurs around us and to us is a direct result of God’s direction. Things outside of our control are caused or allowed by Him. Things within our control are the same. He already knows all about every surprise that we will experience this year and next. And He will provide what is needed, whether it be a tomb or a table, money or a mirror, to fulfill His will in us. If we step outside His will, we find Him already prepared to address our foolishness and waywardness. He has arranged not only for the events, but for all the details surrounding and arising from the events.
We are not looking for a sepulchre today, and for most of us, one will not be needed. But for what we do need, our God has supplied. -Jim MacIntosh