Perhaps you have heard that expression: ‘Things are not always as they ap- pear.’ Living in a physical world surrounded by finite concerns, sometimes we can’t see the bigger picture, the part we have in eternal matters – in an unseen world where all spiritual authorities recognize Christ as King (Colossians 1:15-17, 1 Peter 3:22). Things are not always as they appear. Jesus’ death on the cross appeared to be defeat. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus ask Pilate for permission to take the body of a man who had been beaten and nailed to a cross, a man who had hung in public shame for six hours; they wrap the body in long strips of linen and carefully place this body in a new tomb. The religious leaders’ request the tomb be sealed. Request is granted. Roman guards are stationed – all this ap- peared to be the end. Final. Over.
But things are not always as they appear.