72 HOURS

     Seventy-two hours Jesus was unaccounted for or in his tomb with a great stone that blocked his escape. His escape? He was dead! The Romans had posted guard to make sure that no one would take the body that lay in this tomb.  A body that caused the whole Roman empire distress daily and the Political powers shaken over the preaching that this man had done. For the past three years a gathering of crowds came and heard and saw the works that he had done. To the Jews consternation nothing they could come up with would stop the man or his disciples from spreading this new doctrine. So they did the only thing they could... they killed him and hung him on a cross.  Roman Justice for making oneself a God above Caesar and Jewish justice because their law forbid killing without just cause.
     What of those 72 hours of Jesus's time out of the public eye? It is said or written that "he led captivity captive."  Who were those captives? And where were they and where were they led too?  Paul says in one of his letters that he first descended before he ascended.  That trip into Hell before being glorified was his chance to free the captive souls of many many generations held there without hope of ever being free.  To those who were in a place of torment Jesus suddenly appeared to bring a new hope they must have longed for but tormented in the knowledge they were bound by an authority greater than themselves.  What kind of blinding light suddenly appeared in a darkened world to break these bonds? The same kind of blinding light that transformed (Saul) a murderer on his way to give his consent to kill "the way."  The same kind of light that appeared at the transfiguration on the Mt. And the same kind of light that some say is at the end of a tunnel after one's death.  "Go towards the light is the saying." "Those who sat in darkness (gentiles) have seen a great light."
     And now those in Hell, Sheol, Abbaddon also have seen a great light.   Mary the first to behold the risen Jesus raced to spread the news that her messiah was alive!  Angels were present to announce this great news and the light that suddenly flooded into Mary's soul was carried on to the disciples. And the light like "lightening" made the keepers who watched the tomb "like dead men." This light has two purposes, conviction or salvation.
     Walking talking, eating and being seen of many, after death,Jesus fulfilled all prophecy about himself.                                

                                                                Forever Lord.