The cave was utterly dark. Absolutely still. No movement. No sound. A rock blocked the entrance. Guards were posted outside. Inside the cave was a motionless corpse. For three days it had been laying on a carved platform.
Then in the dark, in the quiet, in the complete solitude of the cave tomb came the sound. Not loudly, but most certain suddenly. With no trumpets or rockets or fanfare but with the eternal God as a witness, the silence was broken.
A single sound in a dark and lonely tomb changed the course of history and provided the only path to eternity with the Creator of the universe.
A gasp. An intake of air. The breath of life after three days of death.
A former corpse now breathing. Death metamorphoses into life. With one lung-full of oxygen, God’s promise of Jesus’ resurrection is fulfilled.
The Lamb of God had paid the price every sheep of His flock deserved. He bridged the gap. He came between our sinful lives and life eternal. He had laid down His life for the sheep. He was the Good Shepherd.
“I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them.
Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved.
They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.
My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.”
John 10: 6-11
That gasp – the greatest sound in all of history – was the culmination of the price He paid … for you and for me. It was the beginning of the gift of eternal life, life everlasting with the Father.
It cost Him everything.
It cost us nothing.
His light shone out of the darkness of that cave and shines for all humanity to see. He is risen! He is risen indeed!
And He is willing to lovingly shepherd us if we will simply recognize Him as our Good Shepherd, our Savior, the Savior of the world.
