April 2011
Friends,
Have you ever wondered what it was like those three days after Jesus was crucified, before He rose? What if you had been one of his closest friends and fully expected Him to conquer evil and become King before your eyes? All those prophecies over thousands of years that you had been waiting to see fulfilled. All the scripture about the long-awaited Messiah that they had memorized as Jewish boys and girls.
Isaiah 9 tells of a King to come. v. 6-7: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.”
Maybe that was the hope that they held foremost in their minds leading up to the crucifixion. But, Jesus told them repeatedly that He would die, that He must die. Mark 10:32-34 – “Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. ‘We are going up to Jerusalem,’ he said ‘and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
Would you have believed that? I’m not sure how I would have felt, but it would be the most frightening experience of my life, to watch my Teacher and friend be brutally killed. What about the good promises? Is He really the Messiah if this is how it ends? Even if I had hope in Him saying He would rise, the doubts would be running rampant in my mind. Just like poor Peter as He denied knowing Jesus after He was taken captive.
Just before He died, the whole earth went dark in the middle of the day. Then, at the moment He died, “the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.” Wow. If that’s not scary, I don’t know what is. Especially if you have no idea what any of it means. Now, we look at that and can see so much hope and life – the curtain of the temple being torn was God showing us that there was no longer a barrier between us and Him. The saints rising from the dead was hope in new life, hope in Jesus’ new life to come – visible evidence that death will not win. But, the disciples probably just thought the world was about to end now that their Messiah was gone.
So, for three days, they probably wondered, what will become of us now? Will He really come back? Imagine the aftermath of the crucifixion. Damage from an earthquake. Mourning family and friends of Jesus. Even the temple must have been in an uproar since the curtain was now torn. How would the priests operate without the holy veil? The Bible doesn’t really tell us any of what went on amongst the disciples during these three days. Probably a lot of confusion and fear. Three days really isn’t that long compared to thousands of years of waiting for a Messiah. But, when you’re in a bad place, three days can be excruciating.
And then, the light shines again, and brighter than before. Matthew 28:1-10 “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: “He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’’ Now I have told you.’ So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. ‘Greetings,’ he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
What an experience! Not only did they find the tomb empty, but Jesus came to them to give them extra assurance that they weren’t crazy and that it really was true. He showed Himself over and over to His loved ones on earth before His final ascension to heaven. He loves us that much to give us the extra hope we need when something is hard to grasp. And He did this for all of us, not just for the two Marys or for His disciples. There is so much hope and joy to be had in remembering what He did for all of us. And His final words to us were “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Maybe you’re in a dark and scary spot in life, one that’s lasting longer than three days. Maybe you’re starting to doubt the promises you once believed. Or maybe you have never believed God’s promises. Maybe you don’t even know what they are. I encourage you to read the wonderful story of our Savior this resurrection weekend. Matthew, Mark and Luke all give accounts of Jesus’ death and resurrection. It’s helpful to read all three accounts because they give such different viewpoints, three different guys with different personalities and different perspectives of Jesus. Matthew walked with Jesus as a disciple. Mark was part of the early church and probably heard first-hand accounts from Peter and other disciples. Luke was a companion of Paul and also heard second-hand accounts. But they were all excited to pass on what they witnessed. We should be just as excited to pass on what we witness of Christ in our own lives. Remember, He is with us “to the very end of the age.” Be filled with joy. Jesus is with us in a new way, in the form of His Spirit, if we choose to follow Him. The power of the Holy Spirit is just as real and just as powerful as Jesus Himself was when He walked physically on this earth.
Jesus told the disciples about the Holy Spirit before His death. In His words, “The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. – John 14:26-27” Jesus did not want them to fear, during those three days, or for the remainder of their lives after He ascended to be with the Father. Jesus left us with peace and the Holy Spirit. Let us not live in confusion, fear, sadness or doubt. “Holy Spirit, rain down, rain down. Oh, Comforter and Friend, How we need Your touch again. Holy Spirit rain down, rain down. Let Your power fall, let Your voice be heard. Come and change our hearts, as we stand on Your word, Holy Spirit, rain down. No eye has seen, no ear has heard. No mind can know, what God has in store. So open up Heaven, open it wide, Over your church, and over our lives.” (Hillsong – Holy Spirit Reign Down)
Take joy in New Life as you remember Christ’s sacrifice for us! And have confidence in His promise to be with us always.
Dogwoods and Easter lilies,
Hebrews 13:16 “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”