Picturesque Details

I am so thankful for the Word of God! It is truly the source of strength and hope! I love how so many Scripture passages are simply poetic. Some passages can be difficult to understand (all the more reason to attend a church that stands on the infallible Word of God). Some verses are so clearly and plainly stated that the meaning is undeniable. Other passages are lyrical and you just want to sing them out! Many passages are so visually descriptive! I enjoy reading the prophetic passages in the Old Testament and then reading the New Testament account of the fulfillment of those prophecies! It is fascinating to me when I read Biblical history as seen through the eyes of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John as they documented their own point of view in the Gospels.

Some passages that are very picturesque to me have to do with Jesus’ birth, His death, and His Resurrection. I just love how the details in the Divine Scriptures tie things together so vividly! As we are in the midst of Easter weekend, the weekend remembering the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, I thought I’d share these passages that I have written in my paper and pen journal. I encourage you to go to the scriptures and read the entire account of each of these passages. When I wrote these out in my journal, I was just struck by the similarities of the details in the accounts of His birth, death, and resurrection!

At His birth… He was lovingly wrapped in swaddling clothes or strips of cloth before He was placed on a manger bed in a lowly borrowed stable.
At His death… He was lovingly wrapped in fine linen before He was placed in a borrowed tomb.

Humble birth… away from home and nowhere to stay… so a borrowed stable is where he came into the world.
Humble death… his tortured and wounded body was placed in a borrowed tomb.

After His birth… the shepherds went, with haste, to verify what the angels had told them about the birth of Christ… and when they had seen Him, they told everyone about Jesus’ miraculous birth.

After His death… When the women went to the tomb to prepare Christ’s body and the angels told them Jesus had risen from the dead… they immediately told the apostles and ‘all the rest’. And after hearing this, Peter ran to the tomb to see for himself.

Passages to Ponder

Concerning Jesus’ Birth
Luke 2:6-7
And so it was, that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her first born son, And wrapped him in swaddling clothes, And laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Concerning Jesus’ Death
Mark 15:43 & 46
Joseph of Arimathea, an honorable counselor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. 
And he bought fine linen, and took him down 
And wrapped him in the linen, 
and laid him in a sepulcher which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulcher. 

Visiting Jesus’ Birthplace
Luke 2:15-17
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, let us now go and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known to us. 
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.  
And when they had seen it they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning the child. 

Visiting Jesus’ Burial Place 
Luke 24:1-9; 12 
Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 
And they remembered his words, and returned from the sepulcher, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. 
Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

This Holy Weekend and everyday, I encourage you to open God’s Word to find the priceless gems of hope and comfort, joy and peace, and unconditional love it’s pages contain. And I am sure you will be led to passages that bring you picturesque details to ponder! You can be sure, this Jesus who was born in Bethlehem, died on Calvary, was buried and rose again… has gone to prepare a place for those who have placed their faith in Him, accepting Him as Savior… And He has promised that He will come again! Come and See the Babe in Bethlehem who became the Christ of the Cross who rose to live again… then Go and Tell everyone you meet! Thank You, Lord, for Your Picturesque Word, the comfort it gives as well as the blessed hope and precious promises it contains! Help me, Father, to tell others of Your great love!