Good evening and welcome to meditation time.
As we near Easter let's spend some time reflecting on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Tonight we will start with prayer and then some breathing to slow ourselves down.
Then I will be reading the account of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection to help calm your heart and mind before sleep.
I will be using the Passion Translation.
After the verses the music will continue.
Have a pleasant and peaceful sleep.
Let's do some breathing.
In through your nose long and deep out through your mouth long and slow.
In through your nose long and deep out through your mouth long and slow.
Gently close your eyes.
In through your nose long and deep out through your mouth long and slow.
In through your nose long and deep out through your mouth long and slow.
Let your breathing return to its normal rhythm and keep your eyes closed.
Let's pray.
Dear Heavenly Father thank you for sending your son to die on the cross to bear sickness and our sin.
Thank you for this amazing gift.
I pray you will give us peace and a renewed remembrance of what you did for us.
Please give us a peaceful and restful sleep.
In Jesus name.
Amen.
Matthew 27 33 to 66.
They brought Jesus to Golgotha which means Skull Hill and there the soldiers offered him a mild painkiller,
A drink of wine mixed with gall but after tasting it he refused to drink it.
Then they crucified Jesus nailing his hands and feet to the cross.
The soldiers divided his clothing among themselves by rolling dice to see who could win them and the soldiers stood there to watch what would happen and to keep guard over him.
Above his head they placed a sign that read this is Jesus of Nazareth king of Israel.
Two criminals were also crucified with Jesus one on each side of him and those who passed by shook their heads and ridiculed him saying we heard you boast that you could destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days why don't you save yourself now if you're really God's son come down from that cross.
Even the ruling priests with the Jewish scholars and religious leaders joined in the mockery and kept on saying he saved others but he can't even save himself Israel's king is he he should pull out the nails and come down from the cross right now then we'll believe him.
He puts his trust in God so let's see if it's true and see if God really wants to rescue him for he said I am the son of God.
Even the two criminals who were crucified with Jesus began to taunt him hurling their insults on him.
For three hours beginning at noon a sudden and unexpected darkness came over the earth and at three o'clock Jesus shouted with a mighty voice in Aramaic Eli Eli Lima sabachthani that is my God my God why have you deserted me.
Some who were standing near the cross misunderstood and said he's calling for Elijah.
One bystander ran and got a sponge soaked it with sour wine then put it on a stick and held it up for Jesus to drink but the rest said leave him alone let's see if Elijah comes to rescue him.
Jesus passionately cried out took his last breath and gave up his spirit.
At that moment the veil and the holy of holies was torn in two from the top to the bottom.
The earth shook violently rocks were violently split apart and graves were opened then many of the holy ones who had died were brought back to life and came out of their graves and after Jesus's resurrection they were seen by many people walking in Jerusalem.
Now when the Roman military officer and his soldiers witnessed what had happened and felt the power of full earthquake they were extremely terrified they said there is no doubt this man was the son of God watching from a distance were so many of the women who had followed him from Galilee and given him support among them were Mary Magdalene Mary the mother of Jacob and Joseph and the mother of Jacob and John.
At the end of the day a wealthy man named Joseph a follower of Jesus for the village of Ramah approached Pilate and asked if he could take custody of the body of Jesus so Pilate consented and ordered that the body be given to him then Joseph wrapped the body in a shroud of fine linen and placed it in its own unused tomb which had only recently been cut into the rock they rolled a large stone to seal the entrance of the tomb and left.
Sitting across from the tomb were Mary Magdalene and the other Marys watching all that took place the next day the day after preparation day for Passover the chief priests and the Pharisees went together to Pilate they said to him our master remember that this imposter claimed that he would rise from the dead after three days so please order the tomb to be sealed until after the third day seal it so that the disciples can't come and steal the corpse and tell people he rose from the dead then the last deception would be worse than the first I will send soldiers to guard the tomb Pilate replied go with them and make sure the tomb is secure as possible so they left and sealed the tomb and Pilate soldiers secured the tomb Matthew 28 1 to 10 after the Sabbath ended at the first light of dawn on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to take a look at the tomb suddenly the earth shook violently beneath their feet as the angel of the Yahweh descended from heaven lightning flashed around him and his robe was dazzling white the guards were stunned and terrified lying motionless like dead men then the angel walked up to the tomb rolled away the stone and sat on top of it the women were breathless and terrified until the angel said to them there's no reason to be afraid I know you're here looking for Jesus who was crucified he isn't here he is risen victoriously just as he said come inside the tomb and see the place where our Lord was lying then run and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead I will give you his message I am going ahead of you to Galilee and you will see me there they rushed quickly to tell his disciples and their hearts were filled with fear awe and great joy at the same time along the way Jesus suddenly appeared in front of them and said rejoice they were so overwhelmed by seeing him that they bowed down and grasped his feet in adoring worship then Jesus said to them throw off all your fears go and tell my brothers and sisters to go to Galilee they will find me there you you you you you you you you you you you you you
