Gone

They stood in shock and disbelief. Mourning turned to dread.

How could the stone be moved away? What happened to the dead?

They came to pray, to understand events three days ago.

Now they stood confused and torn; where did Jesus go?

He taught them all so much of life; to live, to learn, to love.

He taught them of his Father’s gifts; on high, in Heaven above.

His disciples stood nearby as Judas turned Him in;

A bag of gold had been exchanged; let the tragedy begin.

Peter turned his back on Him; refused to call Him friend.

This was only one small step – beginning of the end.

He rode a mule on Sunday as the townsfolk cheered Him on.

Waving palms, they greeted Him with happiness and song.

Beaten, stripped and crowned with thorns, He walked along the road;

Carrying the wooden cross was such a heavy load.

Someone helped to carry it as they walked up to the place

Where the man would meet His death with blood upon His face.

Mother and disciples watched in pain and loss

As the soldiers raised Him up upon that rugged cross.

At His death they carried Him to the quiet tomb.

They prepared His body and left him in the room.

The stone was rolled to cover up the place wherein He slept.

By the stone in dark despair, His closest loved ones wept.

Three days had passed and now they came to look upon the place

Where His precious body lay in God’s redeeming grace.

So they found an empty tomb; the master was not here;

Where could He be? What was wrong? What had happened here?

In their grief they looked upon a man dressed all in white.

He stood there smiling down at them in God’s tremendous light.

He died and rose again for us, to save a world from sin.

The empty tomb, a sign from God that Jesus lives again!