Tag Archive: tomb


Tragedy and Triumph

Filed under: Creatively Speaking, Have You Thought About?, True Story — Leave a comment
April 2, 2021

Reflecting on Passover and Resurrection Sunday

DJ Martin (SingleFocus Ministry®)

Saturday Ryme

I have heard talk of tragic ‘Friday’ and I have heard shouts about triumphant ‘Sunday.’ But quiet is the voice of ‘Saturday.’

I know what went down on Friday, I know what went down on Sunday, but what is the 411 on Saturday, the day between Friday’s tragedy and Sunday’s triumph.

Most illuminating and a little shocking; it was all so human. Surely, it is why there was no chattering.

Matthew 27 tells of Judas, the betrayer, already dead; with his own hands; he died by hanging. But the Pharisees and the Priests did on Saturday visit Pilate, who sentenced Jesus to death– Friday’s tragedy. (verse 62)

Jesus’ prophesy they repeated, “After three days I will be rising. Secure the stone that covers His grave,” they were pleading. “Until the third day, give us soldiers to guard the tomb where Jesus lay, so the Disciples, His cold body they will not be taking, a resurrection hoax proclaiming.”

“Yes,” said Pilate. So, the stone was sealed; and the tomb, the soldiers on Saturday, were watching. (verse 63)

So very natural and very human, the Disciples did (Mark 16:10) mourn the death of Jesus on Saturday, and in a room, they were also hiding (John 20:19). Their leader, Jesus the Christ was dead. Surely for the Disciples, they were coming.  In dismay, they saw it all happening. It was for their own lives they were fearing, like people who witnessed a tragedy, which is what the Disciples did on Saturday.

Jesus, down the road all the way to being nailed to the cross they were following, and from His lifeless body taken from the cross into the tomb, His placing. On Saturday, the women were resting. (Luke 23:56)

On the very night that He was betrayed Jesus to the Disciples repeated, He would die and after three days from the grave, He would be rising. And, “After I am raised again, in Galilee, Me you shall be meeting (Matthew 26:32).” Yet, preparations to go to Galilee they were not making.

While the Priests and Pharisees preparations for the resurrection they were making; the Disciples to steal His body they were not even plotting.

After Jesus said He would die and rise again, strange talk came following. (vs 33-36)

The Disciples, on the tragedy and betrayal, not the resurrection, began focusing. The Resurrection part of Jesus’ prophesy clearly, they were not hearing.

The tragedy, their weariness, and the power of their enemies, the Disciples of Jesus Christ were focusing. It was the Priests and Pharisees, on the triumphant resurrection, they were focusing.

By how the resurrection on Sunday they were reacting; that He would arise from the grave, the Disciples clearly were not believing.

With anointing oils in hand, to look at an empty tomb early Sunday morning, the women were not seeking. (Mark 16:1; Matthew 28:5-6; Mark 16:3; Luke 24:5-6)

When Jesus’ rising, the women were reporting, thinking them delusional the Disciples were not believing. Though He told the women to tell them to meet Him in Galilee, to go to Galilee the Disciples clearly were not preparing. (Mark 16: 11; Luke 24:11)

When to them in the room Jesus made His appearing, a ghost the Disciples thought they were seeing. To them His nailed scarred hands and feet He was showing. And still, a ghost they thought they were beholding.

When He ate fish and honeycomb, they began believing. Then, reminding them of His teaching and prophesy, the scriptures Jesus began explaining.

Shockingly, the Priests and the Pharisees were, but the Disciples for the resurrection were not preparing.

How can this be? That Thomas was not the only one doubting is most illuminating and a little shocking. It was all so human, surely its why, about Saturday, from the preachers there was no chattering.

For the weary, fearful, and those mourning, what happened on Saturday is encouraging and from it a valuable lesson we are learning.

“O fools, and slow to believe all that the prophets have said!” To two unbelieving Disciples, Jesus was responding (Luke 24:13-24). Not to Galilee, but to their home they were heading. The other Disciples, in the room, were remaining. 

The Priest and the Pharisees believing that His rising, Jesus or His Disciples would make it’s happening. But the resurrection happening, the Disciples seem to be not believing.

What most do on dark days, the Disciples were experiencing. And when on the tragedy you are most focused, means not that you are less a Disciple, but like the Disciples back then, you are growing.

How different the time of tragedy we are mourning will be on Saturday if on the resurrection triumph we are focusing. When Jesus living, they were realizing, the change in attitude they began making. Focused on the tragedy of Friday, on Saturday they were mourning, but now the triumph of resurrection they are rejoicing. For a change in countenance and attitude, do not stay in tragedy mourning; focus on the triumph is all I am saying.

Disciples’ Saturday teaches us that focus we should be changing. Though the Pharisees and Priests’ disappointing acts cause mourning, or shelter seeking we are experiencing; live preparing for and the victory anticipating.

Though resurrection Sunday, the Priests and Pharisees tried stopping; and the Disciples on Friday’s tragedy they were focusing; the resurrection, the victory, resurrection triumph was still happening! Jesus Christ, from the tomb, was still rising. Tragedy on Friday and mourning on Saturday may be along the journey, but victory in Jesus Christ, He is promising.

Throughout our entire journey, on triumph, we can be focusing. Just like He said He would, He is not dead, He is alive! He arose!

In times of mourning, we can be rejoicing. Because for us, every day, the Son is arising!

“He is not here: for He is risen, as He said…” Matthew 28:7

That’s Today’s Single Focus

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The Truth about Women, Seeds and Snakes

Filed under: Focus, Overcoming, True Story, Uncategorized — Leave a comment
March 25, 2016

DJ Martin (SingleFocus Ministry®)

In the Beginning:

woman handsWsnakeAdam said, “The woman whom You gave me, she gave me of the forbidden tree, and I did eat.” Then the LORD God said unto the woman, “What have you done?” And Eve said, “The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.” The LORD God said unto the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed above all cattle, and every beast of the field; upon your belly you’ll go, and dust you’ll eat all your life:

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:12-15

Seed of the Woman:

The angel of the Lord appeared unto Joseph in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, fear not to take Mary as your wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and you shall call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.”

All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

Then Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had said, and made Mary his wife: but, knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called His name JESUS.  Matthew 1:20-25

Bruising the Heel:

The chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death. When they had bound Him, they led Him away, and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate, the governor. When He was accused by the chief priests and elders, He said nothing.

Pilate went out unto the Jews, and said unto them, “I find in Him no fault at all.” John 18:38.

At this time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore, when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, “Whom do you want me to release unto you; Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ? They said, “Barabbas” Then Pilate asked, “What shall I do then with Jesus who is called Christ? They all said, “Let Him be crucified.” And the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified.” Then Pilate took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just person…

They crucified Him, and set up over His head His accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

From the 6th hour there was darkness over all the land unto the 9th hour. And about the 9th hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me? Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. That very evening, a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple, went to Pilate, and begged for the body of Jesus. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, hewed out of the rock: and he rolled a great stone over the door of the sepulcher, and left. Matthew 27:1-61

Bruising the Head:

The next day, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, “Sir, we remember that deceiver, while He was yet alive said, “After 3 days I will rise again.” Command therefore that the sepulcher be made sure until the 3rd day, lest His disciples come by night, and steal Him away, and say unto the people, “He is risen from the dead…” So they went and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, and setting guards. Matthew 27: 62-66

At the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the 1st day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the sepulcher. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. And the angel said unto the women, “Fear not: for I know that you seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come; see the place where the Lord was laid.” And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead; and, behold, He goes before you into Galilee; there shall you see Him…” The women departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy; and did run to bring His disciples the news. As they went to tell His disciples, Jesus met them. And they came and held Him by the feet, and worshiped Him. Then said Jesus unto them, “Be not afraid: go tell My brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see Me.” The 11 disciples went into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth… lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:1-20

The End?

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Hebrews 9:28

When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, “Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am He that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Revelation 1:17-18

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 1Corinthians 15:55

That’s Today’s Single Focus…

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Dawn’s Light

Filed under: Creatively Speaking, Focus, Have You Thought About?, Overcoming, True Story, Uncategorized, Winning — 4 Comments
June 26, 2015

DJ Martin (SingleFocus Ministry®)

'DAWN' by D.J. Martin

‘DAWN’ by D.J. Martin

Have you noticed that no matter how darkness crowds out the light of day, dawn still comes in the morning? It looks truly dark these days. While there are mad men all over Africa and the Middle East trying to wipe out the name of Jesus Christ from the lips of the people by murderous slaughter, there are delusional leaders in the free world, thinking the people gullible, declaring war and making treaties on climate change. They are like blind men, in the dark, groping for reading glasses or artificial light.

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

“Thou, even Thou, art LORD alone; Thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and Thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth Thee.” Nehemiah 9:6

We are in a time where the voice of the people overwhelmingly cries out for a return of our nation to righteous God-fearing laws, while the judges hastily declare evil to be right and good to be evil. They do not hear or listen to the voice of God; it’s no wonder that they do not listen to the voice of the people. So the government tries to silence the lips that declare, “The Word of God is true and Jesus is Lord” by passing ungodly laws; declaring that babies should be killed at will and men and women should be allowed to behave even as animals don’t do, and psychologist and counselors are forbidden to try to break the chains that hold perverted minds captive.

Every generation has had challenges that causes the darkness to try to conquer the light. While the children of Abraham were in Egypt, the Pharaoh tried to quench the birth rate of the Israelite by legalizing the late-term abortion of all baby boys. Spiritually speaking, this was the devil’s attempt to squash the promise of God to Abraham. Even so, they still grew in number. Though the time was dark, Moses, the deliverer, was born (Hebrews 11:23). And when he was older, he lead his people from the darkness of oppression and slavery in Egypt to the light of freedom.

King Saul insanely tried to snap out the life of David, because he was jealous and wanted to prevent him from becoming king in his stead. Alas, Saul died at his own hands and David became king anyway (1Samuel 31:4).

Though they captured Samson and blinded his eyes so that he walked in darkness the rest of his imprisoned life and would no longer continuously defeat the Philistines; which was what he was anointed to do. Even so, Samson defeated more Philistines when blind than he ever did when he could see (Judges 16:30).

King Herod tried to prevent the coming of the Messiah by killing baby boys, but Jesus was born and lived anyway. The religious leaders tried to stop the ministry of Jesus Christ. Therefore they tried Him in an illegitimate court and unjustly convicted Him to death on a cross. It was a very dark day; the day He died. Hope faded into darkness for some, on that day. There was no light on the day He died (Mark 15:33–34). Then to prevent any resemblance of His resurrection (for He said He would rise), they placed guards around His tomb, rolled a huge rock to cover the tomb where His body laid and then they sealed the tomb. But, He arose anyway! It was at dawn, in the early light of the morning (Matthew 28:1), that they found the tomb open and the stone rolled away and that Jesus, the Light of the world, was no longer dead. He had risen just as He said He would.

They intimidated the Christians and sent those who uttered the name of Jesus Christ into the darkness; hiding from the Romans for fear they would be crucified also. But there in the upper room, the Light of the Holy Spirit came and the disciples emerged from the darkness and boldly declared the name of Jesus Christ. They were thrown into the darkest of prisons, beaten, beheaded, crucified, ridiculed and exiled; all to silence the lips who called Jesus Christ, “Lord.” Even so, His name continues to be on the lips of people of every tongue and every nation.

I’m thinking that the reason every generation has their days of darkness is because, there is in every generation someone or some government or ruler, who is on the devil’s side (Ephesians 6:12), trying to hide the Light by trying to silence the lips that call the name of Jesus Christ and declare Him Lord. But I’m reminded that the light of the truth of Jesus Christ emerges despite all that darkness tries to do.

John tells us in the book of Revelation that darkness will come with great vengeance and the rulers of darkness, in the last generation, will again ferociously try to silence the lips of those that call the name of Jesus Christ. They will beat, oppress and kill their bodies. They will pass laws to oppress and silence them and chase them into darkness, hiding for fear of persecution and death. But, dawn will come and there will be a removal of darkness and the light of the Son will rule and vanquish the rulers of darkness into a pit (Revelation 21:23). The dead in Christ will rise and the Light of the world will visibly rule forever more.

Jesus put it this way, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man [the Light] coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Matthew 24:29-30).”

How fascinating that God put in place a demonstration of the victorious truth of this spiritual warfare. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12).” No matter how dark the night on this pilgrimage, the dawn’s light of day effortlessly comes and consumes the darkness.

Truly, this generation, is witness to darkness, but praise be to God, just as surely as the dawn comes after the darkness of night, we know that the Light ‘cometh’ and conquers the darkness of this world.

“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.” Isaiah 60:1

  That’s Today’s’ Single Focus…

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FOREVER LIFE

Filed under: Focus, Have You Thought About?, Overcoming, Searching For Purpose?, True Story, Uncategorized — 2 Comments
April 5, 2015

DJ Martin (SingleFocus Ministry®)
Forever LifeFor ages men and women have searched and researched methods to prolong the youthfulness of human beings. Until they find the real ‘Fountain of Youth’, they hire makeup artist and purchase cosmetic Do-It-Yourself kits that give the illusion of youthfulness. They even have cosmetic surgeons that nip and tuck, lift and lower the skin to create and maintain a youthful appearance forever. But God has a plan that money cannot buy.

Since He is the eternal God who has a forever love toward the people He created, He has the solution. It’s a solution that doesn’t have to be camouflaged and is not phony. It is a formula and a recipe which value is immeasurable; no human being or nation has treasures adequate enough to buy. All the gold in the entire world cannot purchase this balm. The largest vault in the entire world cannot contain it; no not even the oceans can hold it. There have already been advertisements about it, but many don’t believe it, because it’s ‘free’. Many don’t believe that it will work, because it is too simple. But God has an ‘organic’ perfectly safe and perfectly free solution. He has the perfect formula to give mankind eternal life. It’s ‘free’; God has already paid the perfect price, because the cost was too high for even the richest person alive to afford.

God sent His only begotten Son to make the purchase which was at a tremendously great price. His Son did not bring, from heaven, silver, gold or precious stone. His Son gave His life. The formula required the blood of a perfect sacrificial lamb. This lamb was Jesus Christ. Anyone, rich or poor, male or female, young or old can acquire eternal life. All they have to do is believe in the Son and His blood sacrifice. All who believe in Jesus Christ and except Him as Savior can have forever/eternal life. To everyone who receives it and believes it, they can have everlasting life; they can live with the forever God forever.

Jesus Christ was born of a virgin. He did not have the blood of a man running through His veins. He was the only begotten Son of the true and living God. He was the perfect sacrifice. Because of God’s great love for mankind, His creation, God gave His Son to make the payment for our sins. Before Christ, life’s end was a certainty, because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Because of the Son’s love for the Father, Christ willingly offered up Himself as the blood sacrifice for the atonement of our sins; thus, assuring the opportunity for all mankind to live forever.

Jesus Christ has already put in the time, blood, sweat and tears and death to make the payment required to ensure your life forever. All you have to do is believe in and accept the gift. If you believe that He has paid the price, you can receive forever life for free.

You don’t have to wait until you get to heaven to receive eternal life. You don’t have to write more books of the Bible; you don’t have to persuade ten men to join the church; and you don’t have to give more money to the preacher. Nothing you can do, buy or sell will give you forever life. Forever life is ‘free’! Christ, alone, has picked up the tab. All you have to do is accept the gift. It is by the blood of Jesus Christ, alone, that forever life is available.

The great thing about the formula for eternal life is that it has been tested and proven. Jesus volunteered to prove its truth. He let people beat Him, nail Him to a cross and keep Him there until He died. Then they laid Him in a tomb and covered it with a great stone. Early one morning one of the women followers met Him near the tomb where they had laid His body. To her amazement and delight, He was alive and well!

He now sits on the right hand of God, ready to give forever life to anyone who desires it. “No Charge!”

All you have to do is believe, ask Him and receive it. I am a witness; it works! Christ is alive; He has risen just like He said He would and He lives forever more!

“I am He that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” Revelations 1:18

That’s Today’s’ Single Focus…

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