THANK GOD FOR SUNDAY

It’s strange how a story can actually become a little too familiar. We have the outline of the story committed to memory and sooner or later it’s reduced to nothing more than a series of people, places and things.  We lose touch with the heart of the story.  With the real life emotions that lie behind the story and make it so powerful.
I think that’s what happens with the Easter story.  We know the cast of characters–Jesus, the disciples, even Pilate, Caiaphas and the crowd of mockers.  We remember how the story moves from the Passover, to the cross, and finally to the empty tomb.  But we forget how those three fateful days impacted the disciples and changed their lives forever.

Thursday was a day full of doubts and questions.  The disciples gathered with Jesus in the upper room, expecting to enjoy the Passover meal together.  Instead, Jesus said that one of them–one of his closest friends–would betray him.  Then he shocked them by saying that he was going away and that none of them could follow.  How the questions must have filled their hearts!  Peter tried to show off his faith, only to be told that he would actually deny Jesus three times before the sun rose the next morning.  Then off they went to the garden, where Jesus prayed fervently while the disciples slept.  Jesus woke them up, only to announce that a detachment of temple guards had come to arrest him.  Utterly panicked and afraid, the disciples ran off into the night.

Friday was a day of broken hearts and shattered dreams.  Jesus was beaten, whipped and crucified.  The one who claimed to be the promised messiah was hanging on a cross–cursed, mocked and humiliated.  Then he died, and a Roman soldier drove a spear into his heart to prove it.  Jesus was dead.  There was no denying it.  And for the disciples, all of their hopes and dreams died with him.  There would be no more teaching.  No more miracles.  There would be no messiah righting wrongs and restoring the glory and honor of God’s people.  There was just a dead man and a tomb.

The Bible says nothing about Saturday.  That seems very fitting to me.  I imagine the disciples felt nothing but numbness after everything that had happened.  Numb from grief.  Numb from shock and worry.  Numb from fear.  I see them huddled together behind a closed door, locked for their safety.  I hear weeping and wailing.  Their lives had been transformed in an instant.  Only a few days before they had been sitting under the teaching of Israel’s greatest teacher.  Sharing his life.  Following in his footsteps.  Now there was nothing…

But thank God for Sunday!

It was on Sunday that Jesus fulfilled the scriptures by rising from the dead–literally, bodily and with witnesses to confirm it.  Jesus was alive!  Their hopes and dreams were alive!  The tomb that only yesterday had stood as a symbol of death and despondency was now a symbol of life, hope and endless joy.  The risen Jesus not only filled them with a sense of hope and wonder, he also charted a new path for their lives.  In barely a month and a half the Holy Spirit would come, empowering them to proclaim the risen Jesus to the world.  In the beginning, they were nothing but fisherman.  Then they were followers learning at the feet of Jesus.  Now they were full-fledged missionaries, sharing the story of their Lord’s life, death and resurrection and the hope that only he can bring.

I pray that Easter will be as meaningful and life changing for you this year as it was for the disciples 2000 years ago.

Thank God for Sunday!

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