Well, good morning, my friends, and welcome to the Heritage Hour. I’m Mark Gonzales, your pastoral encourager here in Southwest Florida, and I’m so delighted to be with you on air, online, and in media ministry for over, well, about 35 years now.

So thank you for sitting with me at the feet of the Lord to listen for his heart to touch our hearts. Well, if you’ve been with us, you know we’re going through a series that I’m calling Passion Week Portraits of God. And you know what? I started this back in Easter month, back in April, and thought it’d be two weeks.

But it’s turning into ten, and this is week and message number seven. as we’re going through Passion Week and all the different portraits that I see in Scripture as I just watch what the Lord is doing and how He’s doing it and oh how deep He is. And if you’ve been with us, you know we’ve covered Palm Sunday talking about the Lord as our humble King, celebrated King, rejected King, anguished King, who on Monday cleansed the temple. We’ve talked about how he is our thorough teacher on Tuesday when he was sharing tons of parables and insights, woes and blessings, prophecies and promises. And then we talked about how he was betrayed on Wednesday, our betrayed Messiah.

And how on Maundy Thursday, that’s what we call it now, we see all kinds of portraits of the Lord as our Lord’s Supper, our foot washing Messiah, our betrayed lover, our comforting betrothed. though John 14 was so clear about that. Our fruitful vine in John 15, our eternal joy and our priestly intercessor in John 17, how he’s our loving oneness in the rest of John 17. And then we looked at Good Friday and how he’s our ultimate sacrifice, the volunteer sacrifice, substitute sacrifice, healing sacrifice, humble sacrifice and transcendent sacrifice. and after going over Good Friday now we come to what I call Sabbath Saturday and the four gospel accounts don’t have a lot of verses about it and there doesn’t seem to be a lot going on but in reality there is and that’s what we want to talk about today is we’re going to look at two portraits that I see of the Lord Jesus Christ as we read the accounts of the end of the day of crucifixion as it led up to the Sabbath day the Sabbath Saturday And we going to see two portraits there of the lord as our sabbath rest which leads us to a second one that i reveal in a bit of something that’s so encouraging when you feel like there’s not much going on in your life in the way of god’s participation god’s love god’s ways so uh yeah i can’t wait to unpack it for you if you have your bibles we’re going to start over in uh john at the end of chapter 19 and then look at a couple of the other gospel accounts of what happened after jesus died on the cross and before he rose again from the dead so as you’re making a way over to john 19 just a quick reminder that all of these 27 minute messages are archived on my website I call it Helping You Hear God. All kinds of tools on that landing page.

Just click on the broadcast box. It’s markpg.org, by the way. markpg.org. Click on the broadcast box of resources. And then Portraits of God.

And you’ll have a list of all of these messages archived for you to review or to hear them if you miss them or to share with others.

So it’s markpg.org. just some tools to help you hear God. Well, as is our custom, as we get ready to dive into our journey through the Lord’s love letters to us, let’s just go before the Lord and ask Him to speak, shall we? Lord, thank you so much for the privilege of, wow, looking at all of these portraits throughout the Scripture, your love letters to us that give us a glimpse of who you are, what you’re like, what your heart is like through these portraits. And I pray that they’ll just be portraits that will be embedded in our souls.

That whenever we’re dealing with the trials, tribulations, temptations, and tests of life, that all of these different portraits will rise up to reminders that you are with us. Yeah.

So as we look at Sabbath Saturday before next week, we move on to Easter Sunday and all the portraits we see. emerging during that marvelous story, the greatest story ever told, Lord. I pray that you’ll help me just be able to share it in a way that, well, will touch us when we need to be touched. Oh, thank you, Lord. We love you, Lord.

And we pray this in the powerful name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by his precious cleansing and healing transforming empowering and forgiving blood Amen amen and amen Alright my friends if you have your Bible or device we going to John chapter 19 We going to pick it up in verse 38 This is immediately following the Lord finishing his work on the cross. And the Bible says this, After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, because of the fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’ body. Pilate gave him permission, and so he came and he took his body away. and Nicodemus who had previously come to him at night also came bringing a mixture of about 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes by the way I got to stop there now John is the only gospel that shares with us that Nicodemus was part of this along with Joseph of Arimathea and I think that’s just a marvelous well it shows us the journey that both men were on that though they were religious leaders they began to see the Lord Jesus Christ who was the promised Messiah and their journey was continuing so much so that they together took the body and buried it together but they weren’t the only ones there as we read on. Verse 40 Then they took Jesus’ body and wrapped it in linen cloths with aramaic spices excuse me, aromatic Let me get it right.

Aramaic may have been their heritage, but it’s aromatic spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews. And there was a garden in the place where he was crucified. A new tomb was in the garden. No one had yet been placed in it, and they placed Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation, that is, for the Sabbath that was to come. and since the tomb was nearby.

Now let’s add to that story as we look at Luke’s account of what he had to say over in chapter 23 and we’ll pick it up in verse 50. He said, There was a good and righteous man named Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin who had not agreed with their plan and action. He was from Arimathea, a Judean town and was looking forward to the kingdom of God. And he approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.

And taking it down he wrapped it in fine linen and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock where no one had ever been placed and it was preparation day and the sabbath was about to begin the women who had come with him from galilee that is him referring to jesus followed along and observed the tomb and how his body was placed so just just an explanatory word uh jesus had a big following of women among the disciples and men’s in all. And I mean, there’s no gender bias in the scriptures. I mean, they’re important and they are mentioned and they are mentioned in this story as well as coming along to seeing what’s happening. And then verse 56, then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes and they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment and not just the women, but everybody, all faithful Jews, even members of the Sanhedrin, like Joseph of Arimathea, even Nicodemus, as was mentioned over in John’s gospel.

And now just to finish the story, because I just love the story and to get a little bit more of a glimpse of what was going on between the death of the Lord Jesus Christ and his finished work on the cross and the glorious thing that would happen on the third day when he was rise again. Mark puts it this way in chapter 15 verses 42 and following. It says, when it was ready evening, when it was already evening, because it was preparation day, that is the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Centredion, who was himself looking forward to the kingdom of God, came and boldly went into Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.

Now let me stop right there. I just want to kind of highlight Joseph of Arimathea for a moment and even Nicodemus. These men were leaders. Nicodemus was a teacher of teachers.

And here we’re told that Joseph was a prominent member of the Sanhedrin. And the other gospel, John was saying he did not agree, or maybe it was Luke’s, he did not agree with what was going on in this persecution, basically, and condemnation and crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was not part of that. He was dead set against it.

And yet, he continued to walk the walk. He still had a heart to see the kingdom of God, to see it unfold. He had an awesome, apparently emerging love and respect and devotion to Jesus Christ so much that he would risk going to Pilate to ask for the body.

Now verse 44. Pilate was surprised that he was already dead and summoning the centurion he asked whether he had already died. And when he found out from the centurion, he gave the corpse to Joseph. And after he bought some fine linen, he took him down and wrapped him in the linen.

And we know from the other gospel that he wasn’t alone. Nicodemus was with him. And then he placed him in a tomb, cut out of a rock, and rolled a stone against the entrance. And now Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were watching where he was placed.

So there it is, a beautiful story of the horrific aftermath of the crucifixion of Jesus, an innocent man at the hands of Rome being prodded and prompted and forced by the Jewish leaders of the day. And oh my goodness, what a tragedy. What a heartbreak. And the grieving was beginning, which brings us to the two portraits that I see emerging as we think about the Sabbath Saturday that they were getting ready to experience.

Joseph, Nicodemus, these women, many others going into the day of Sabbath rest. And you know what? That is one of my portraits of God. He is our Sabbath rest.

My friend, it’s just not about a day of the week that you set aside and become a pharisaical and say, okay, these are the risks of do’s and don’ts. It’s not about that. It’s about immersing ourselves into Jesus Christ and sitting at his feet. He said, come unto me all who are weary and heavy later, and I will give you what?

Rest. for I am gentle and humble heart and you will find rest for your souls. My burden is easy. My yoke is light. He is the place of Sabbath rest, my friend.

No matter what you’re going through, no matter what’s going on, no matter what turn of events you’re dealing with, He personally is your Sabbath rest to the degree you abide in Him. And the devastation that his followers were obviously feeling here and his family and all of his followers. I mean it looked for all intents and purposes that the religious leaders who are so fearful of their own position of their own belief system outraged by what this man Jesus had been teaching with authority coming to the conclusion they needed to get rid of him, to put him away, to have him killed, manipulating the system, manipulating the Romans. And then the Romans just so, oh, whatever, just do it.

We don’t care. It’s that religious stuff. I mean, all of this looked like all was lost. Jesus was defeated.

The end just happened before our very eyes. What in the world is going on? And that is what was happening on this Sabbath rest, that day of the week. All of these people quietly grieving.

Have you been in that place? everything just comes crashing down everything you hoped and dreamed about everything you experienced and loved is just crashed down died and the overwhelming grief you feel reminiscent of the Lord Jesus in grief in Gethsemane so by the way grieving is not a sin It’s not being a weak, sissy, lily Christian. Grief is a part of life because brutal things happen in this life. And brutal things just happened. And now it’s like all is done.

It’s quiet a whole day of what’s going on. Quietly grieving. Bewildered. Hoping.

Yearning. Watching. Pondering. what is happening here and i can imagine that through that time as they were thinking about so many things jesus was telling them during passion week now look this is going to happen and i will be killed but i’m going to rise again the third day and they’re going now what does that mean and what i mean he said he was going to live forever he said he’s got living water he said what is going on here he’s supposed to be defeating our enemies but the enemies have defeated him he’s dead.

But wait, he’s saying my kingdom is not of this world. It’s not like that. What does all that mean? Can you just imagine what’s going on?

And, and here’s what’s so, so beautiful to me as I find myself going through seasons like that. In fact, I’ve mentioned to you in the last few broadcasts, we’re going through a challenging medical season for my wife. She’s having to have two surgeries. She got out of one and she going through the slow painful recovery of that one only to get ready for the next one And there are times when we going whoa pondering and yearning and hoping and grieving and watching and waiting and, ah.

And yet, as I look at this, I’m reminded that during this Sabbath rest, there’s another portrait that emerges for me. as I think about all of those people thinking about all the things he said that gave them glimpses of something extraordinary was to come. That he was always working. He always is working. Even the things he didn’t understand, he was working.

Even the things he didn’t see, they were working.

Because he is. Here’s the next portrait. Not only our Sabbath rest, but he is our constant way maker. Constant way maker.

I know that title sounds a little strange. It actually comes from one of my favorite praise songs, you know, that he is our way maker. Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness. My God, that is who you are.

When I don’t see it, you’re working. And when I don’t feel it, you’re working. You never stop. You never stop working.

That’s a marvelous biblical truth there. regardless of your musical taste. It’s a marvelous, powerful truth that even when we don’t see it, even when we don’t feel it, He is working. He’s making a way. He’s making a way.

He’s always making a way for us to see Him, go deeper in Him, abide in Him, take us through things, work out these things that seem dead, gone, forgotten. no. He’s still working. Oh, my friends, on this day in between, the day that he allowed himself to voluntarily be hung on a cross, tortured, stabbed, reviled, ridiculed. He could have called down angels. We talked about this last time.

He was our ultimate sacrifice. who was a voluntary sacrifice. He was working. It didn’t look like it. It looked like he was losing.

No, there was a far deeper work going on though it looked horribly wrong. And then on Sabbath Saturday, eerily quiet nothing silence tumbleweeds flowing through What just happened You ever dazed like that You ever have seasons like that, my friends, when it sounds like the heavens are utterly quiet, eerily quiet? You’re seeking after the Lord, you’re praying, but you’re not hearing anything. And you’re wondering, has He forgotten me? is this all bogus am i foolish to continue hoping what is going on here patiently pondering i love how the christmas accounts when jesus was born and mary being visited by the angel she kept pondering all these things in her heart and then the shepherds came and said their thing and she kept pondering these things in our heart.

Do you ponder on your Sabbath rest, which doesn’t have to be one day a month, I mean one day a week, but I hope you cultivate a heart that reflexively ponders the ways of God, especially when you don’t see it, especially when you don’t feel it, especially when it seems like he’s so far away or so aloof, so unknowable, so unseeable. Well, he doesn’t hide so that he can’t be found. He kind of hides so that he can be found. It’s kind of like when you’re playing hide and seek with little toddlers and all.

You can hide so that they’ll never find you, but that’s not the fun, is it? The fun is you get behind a curtain or something, but you stick the leg out so they can see just a little bit of you. And as they’re toddling around, trying to find daddy, trying to find mommy, trying to find brother, trying to find sister, and then they see that leg and go, oh, oh, oh. And they go and they pull back the curtain and they see you and you just delight.

And then they’d squeal and delight in you. Yes, you found me. Jesus hides, not so that he can’t be found, but so that he can be found. And the reality is that even when he seems like he’s totally hidden, totally out of sight, there are little glimpses he’s giving you that he is working he never stops he never stops working he’s a way maker he’s always making the way he’s got you he’s got this whatever you’re dealing with my friends and that is so encouraging to me and as we look more specifically about what was happening at this epic moment in history when he had allowed himself to be hung on a cross and put to death, even though he was totally innocent, the deeper work, as you know, he was doing was a deeper work. of paying the price for our sin, paying the price to satisfy the wrath of God.

We call that propitiation. We taught paying the price. We call that redemption. He was making a way of salvation for us as our substitutionary atonement on the cross.

He was our substitute savior, atoning, covering for our sin. If we come in personal covenant relationship with him and become one like marrying him. That’s what a covenant is. Our marriage covenant on earth.

We marry someone, we become what? One with them. Everything they have, all that we are, becomes one another’s. And that’s what salvation is.

And on the Sabbath Saturday, when all seemed eerily quiet, all is lost. The death of the vision you had for the glory of Messiah coming to establish his kingdom on earth, guess what? He was still working on it, even though you couldn’t see it, even though you couldn’t feel it. He’s our constant way maker.

No matter what seems to be on the surface what happening under the surface is that the Lord is our constant way maker My friend what are you going through What kind of a vision for your life has died Maybe it’s with your marriage, you’re really struggling, or your parenting, you’re really struggling, or at work, you’re really struggling, or financially, or with health, or something. And it’s like, the Lord’s not working. The Lord’s not doing anything. It just seems the same old, same old, and he’s forgotten us.

No, he hasn’t. even though it doesn’t look like it or feel like it. He is constantly working. He is our constant way maker, always making a way for you to discover the incredible depth of his works and the height and the breadth of it all. This was just a temporal death, a temporary death that was happening here to the Lord Jesus Christ.

And there were invisible workings going on and even the visible ones that looked like all was lost was not the reality. There was a deeper reality going on. Eternal things were unfolding, even in this day of rest. And it’s the seasons of Sabbath rest.

It’s the seasons, not just on the day, but in heart. When you’re working through something, the Lord says come closer come deeper swim deeper Yes I your merciful Savior Yes I am your gentle teacher Yes I your gracious master Those are the first three of five levels in our deep dive into Christ.

But son, but daughter, listen now. Are you listening? I am your loving father. Also your loving bridegroom.

I love you more than you can possibly imagine. I am with you. I never leave you or forsake you. We’re a covenant.

We’re a one. And our fruitful oneness is the deepest of all. Walk with me in oneness. Trust the oneness.

You don’t have to see my hand at work to know that I’m with you and that I am constantly making a way. Constantly making a way. Constantly drawing you to myself. Constantly healing you.

Constantly growing you. Constantly loving you. I am the constant way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness. When you don’t see it, I’m working.

When you don’t feel it, I’m working. Even when it looks like all is quiet and nothing is being done I am working Come deeper Come deeper Sit with me Let me hold you. I am making a way. Even if you don’t see it.

Even if you don’t feel it. I am with you. I am your Sabbath rest and your constant way maker. Oh, wow.

What a Savior. What a Lord who loves us more than we can possibly imagine, my friend. Well, Lord, we just thank you so much for this. How you are always working, always working.

You’re a constant way maker. And we can rest in that. And we will.

So thank you, Lord, for being that kind of God and making it that way. That we can abide in you to bear much fruit and to be comforted from above. In Jesus’ name, amen. Well, I’m Mark Gonzales, and I hope you’ll check out my website at markpg.org for more.

Oh, until next time, fall in love with Jesus, our constant way maker.