THE RESURRECTION

The grave in which my Saviour lay
 For three whole nights and days
Was a cave hewn out of solid rock—
A mighty stone its entrance blocked—
 That's what the Bible says.

Inside that tomb of hewn stone,
 In the blackness, damp and gloom,
His body lay wrapped in aloes and myrhh,
Sealed inside a cocoon, as it were,
 Whose odours filled the room.

His Soul had descended into Hell
 To set death's captives free,
To be with the thief in Paradise,
To show to all He had paid sin's price
 On Calvary's cursed tree.

The third day dawned, but before the sun
 Could above the horizon climb,
The darkness and the gloom dispelled—
The Son of God had returned from Hell
 At God's appointed time.

Out through the linen cast He came bodily
 Without tearing or unwrapping;
The cave was filled with brilliant light
But no mortal eyes beheld the sight—
 None knew that it was happening.

The stone did not move from the cave door
 When Christ the Lord came forth.
Nay, through the stone He passed that day
(For the disciples' sake, it was rolled away
 [That they might go in, of course]).

The Son of God with power stood forth,
 God's own Sacrificial Lamb,
Having once and for all conquered death,
The Lord who gives us life and breath—
 Jesus, the great I AM.

  a. franklin staples
April 7, 1993

Copyright © 1993 by A. Franklin Staples