March 2020

“Joseph of Arimathea an honorable counselor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.” Mark 15:43

I have heard it asked, “Do you crave the body of Christ?” When Joseph went to Pilate to beg for the body of Jesus, it was bloody and beaten, His visage was marred more than any man, His form more than the sons of men (Is. 52:15). His body had nothing to offer.  There was no life in His body, but Joseph loved Jesus. He desired Him. He knew His worth. He knew the life and the power that had been in that Body, the miracles His hands had worked, and the Love that laid His life down.

Tonight, our first meeting at church was cancelled because of the pandemic.  And I am living this scripture in a deeper way than I ever have. My heart is broken, and I am craving the body of Christ. I am longing to be with His church for this is the place that God has commanded His blessing. “Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity…there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore” (Ps 133). It is the place where we bear one another’s burdens, where God’s perfect love casts out our fear. It is the place where we are free and we are set free. Church is the place of the supernatural. Church is the manifestation of divine love – where people of all walks of life, even from every tribe and tongue, are one! This love is manifest, for we have been accepted in the Beloved! Now, by His blood, we are members one of another! To be separate from one another is such a blow.

It is often said you don’t know what you have until it is gone. Do you know what you have? Are you a part of a fellowship? I don’t just mean – do you attend church?  John says, “That which we have seen and heard we declare unto you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.”

Are you craving the body of Christ, or is church an address? Are you longing for the members of your body, or can you take church or leave it? Maybe you say the church has hurt me, I was slandered there, I was gossiped about, no one “got me.” Perhaps you were abandoned or hurt. And the truth is …maybe so…likely so.

Though the church on earth is full of the glory of God, we being earthen vessels are prone to sin. The glory of the church is not in its sinlessness, but in its power to forgive. The love of God that covers a multitude of sin is redemption, reconciliation, an evergreen life in a world of decay! We do not yet appear what we shall be, but when we see Him we shall be like Him!

It did not yet appear what Jesus would be when Joseph craved His body. For the most part He just looked defeated; He was dead. It looked like He wasn’t really who He said He was. He still smelled of sweet perfume that was poured out on Him…that worship must have been an extravagant waste to many watching that day. But three days later, when others went to bring sweet spices to His tomb, they were told by an angel that “He is not here; He is Risen!”

I wonder if you are able to pour out your worship in the church now, or do your think it is a waste to worship God? When the doors open back up after the days of this pandemic will you run there? Will you be in your place, fitly joined? Will your prayers be effectual there? Will your giving be eternal there? Will you bear the burdens of others and have your burdens carried there? Will you receive grace there? Will you say come Lord Jesus there?

Or will internet church be enough for you? Will you seek your own kingdom? Will you need the church? Maybe you mock the church and you say you have never seen her worth: she has nothing to offer me, she is not what she says she is. I would like to humbly warn you that as sure as Jesus did rise, the day is coming quickly that the church will rise too!

“…And we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thes.4:17).

Dear friend, if you wait till that day to run to the church for answered prayers, you will be too late! Bring your woes and bang on the doors all you like, but there will be no life left inside to answer, for we are not there! We are risen! Woe unto you in that day! There will be no brotherly love dwelling together in unity. Oh, I plead with you, seek the Lord while He May be found, oh that you would crave the Body of Christ, now!

Michelle Valet