The Pain of Death is Loose From Me

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Empty tomb


Happy Easter, everybody!

I’ve been a Christian for as long as I can remember. During my youth, and especially in my hippie years, I gave up active practice for a time. But I never apostatized, and during my young adulthood my childhood faith rerasserted itself.

As I came to understand it, the core message of Christianity is this:

The tomb is empty.

That’s what I’m reminded of when I wake up every Easter Sunday. The rest is details.

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With all that in mind, the song below is a live version of “Pine Box” by the Rossington Collins Band (1981):



The lyrics are below the jump:
– – – – – – – – –

Pine Box
Rossington Collins Band, 1981

Don’t give me no cold pine box
Don’t dig me a hole
‘Cause when I hear my Savior talk
It strengthens my soul

My heart is a-pumpin’ fast
Hot tears stream down my cheeks
Through water and through the blood
The old man’s in the creek

Your treasure’s where your heart is
Your roots are at the stump
Does your blood flow or did you know
You have to prime your pump?

The pain of death is loose from me
Death has no toe-hold
A pine box can’t hold me down
My ground can’t get cold

Don’t give me no cold pine box
Don’t dig me a hole
‘Cause when I hear my Savior talk
It strengthens my soul

14 thoughts on “The Pain of Death is Loose From Me”

  1. “The tomb is empty.
    That’s what I’m reminded of when I wake up every Easter Sunday. The rest is details.”

    I like that way of putting it, Baron. And the “less saved,” more “eye-for-an-eye” part of me also likes the formulation of Robert Spencer from yesterday’s Jihad Watch — “Hades is Angry!”

    A blessed and happy Easter to you and Dymphna and all the readers of Gates.

  2. The Tomb is Empty.

    I love that – as I love the fact that today brings the hope of renewal, the surety of new life.

    Have a blessed Easter!

  3. The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes.

    The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin.

    Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.

    She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, ‘They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and I don’t know where they have put him!’

    Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple out ran Peter and got there first. He stopped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn’t go in.

    Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying to the side.

    Was that important? Absolutely!
    Is it really significant? Yes!

    In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day.

    The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every

    Jewish boy knew this tradition.

    When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it.

    The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished..

    Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table.

    The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, “I’m finished..”

    But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because……….

    The folded napkin meant,

    “I’m coming back!”

  4. What a wonderful Easter Story! I am not Catholic, but I have had a wonderful Catholic Latin hymn running through my head today:

    Tantum Ergo

    Tantum ergo Sacramentum
    Veneremur cernui:
    Et antiquum documentum
    Novo cedat ritui:
    Praestet fides supplementum
    Sensuum defectui.

    Genitori, Genitoque
    Laus et iubilatio,
    Salus, honor, virtus quoque
    Sit et benedictio:
    Procedenti ab utroque
    Compar sit laudatio.
    Amen.

    English Translation:

    Down in adoration falling,
    Lo! the sacred Host we hail,
    Lo! oe’r ancient forms departing
    Newer rites of grace prevail;
    Faith for all defects supplying,
    Where the feeble senses fail.

    To the everlasting Father,
    And the Son Who reigns on high
    With the Holy Spirit proceeding
    Forth from each eternally,
    Be salvation, honor, blessing,
    Might and endless majesty.
    Amen.

    Happy Easter Dymphna and Baron!

  9. Happy Easter.

    There is another Jewish tradition that one should also remember: G-d is love.

    A tradition common to both Judaism and Christianity!

  10. Jewel–

    Well, my dear, if you’re not Catholic, you obviously had a mis-spent youth since that is a hymn commonly sung at “Benediction” (the Catholic version of Vespers).

    I never knew the English, but I love that hymn. Thanks for putting it in my head…maybe for another feast day I’ll find it on You Tube.

    —-

    Findalis–

    Having spent a morning reading about Islam in Australia (two books sent by one of our readers all the way from Oz), it has left me, once again, gob-smackedly grateful for Judaism.

    Shalom.

  12. I spent time in a Catholic orphanage in Montana. Saint Thomas was one of the best experiences I had, growing up, Dymphna. I grew up an unwashed heathen street brat. Christ tamed me as an adult.

  14. Great post, Baron. As a long time Rossington-Collins fan and long-time Jacksonville native, I love the song choice! Hope ya’ll had a great Easter!

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