"Grave"

The ancient creed spoke of a deed,

Of that old Saturday,

Laid in the grave, my soul to save,

And it had this to say,

He went down low to those you know,

Who needed His good news,

Set captives free, who then would be,

Those whom God would choose.

I don’t pretend, my thoughts to lend,

To this old mystery,

But this I know, no doubt He’d go,

To hell to just find me.

‘Cause self-induced, by sin seduced,

The hell that held me down,

He broke its grip, redemption’s trip,

I then could hear the sound,

Of saving grace from His own face,

He spoke His love to me,

Into the grave, my soul to save,

His love has set me free.

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love…” (Romans 8:38, NLT)

The message of the death and burial of Jesus is that God’s love wins. It wins over hatred, sin, fear, pain, sickness, death and hell. It wins because it is unstoppable by anything in God’s creation. God’s love created, then redeemed. Such love is almost indescribable, but Paul points at it and says “I am convinced…”. The original version of the Apostles Creed says that Jesus “suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead.” What does it mean that He descended into hell? No one really knows. There are a couple of scriptures that mention it, but don’t explain it. But to me it means at least what my poem says: He met me in my hell to lead me out. My hell couldn’t separate me from His love. His love still amazes me.

Lord, thank You for Your suffering and death on the cross. Help us to receive, celebrate and share Your love, in Jesus’ name.

Art by R.S. Riddick, rsriddick.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Mr. Riddick, and God bles syou.