For three years, a few people had given everything to be a follower of Rabbi Jesus, the one they believed was the Messiah, sent by God to restore Israel and bring in the Kingdom of God.
On Passover, Jesus was crucified, and most of them ran. I was thinking what life is like the day after a terrible tragedy. The day of a tragedy is hard, but, usually we don't think it is real. We feel like we are in a dream, a nightmare, and hope that we will wake up tomorrow and it will be over. When we wake up, reality strikes.
That must have been how the disciples felt. This is real. Jesus is dead, buried. No Messiah, no Kingdom. The ride is over. No hope.
We know that resurrection is coming tomorrow, Hallelujah! We have hope. But, still the day between crucifixion and resurrection is hard. The waiting time. We know that tomorrow is coming, but we don't know exactly what it will look like.
Right now, I am not there. My life is full of resurrection moments and experiences. But I have certainly been there. Today, I am thinking about the many people I love who are living out an in-between, waiting Saturday. I am thinking about them today, praying for them to have strength, grace, peace, and perseverance.
Some are waiting for the man God will bring for them to marry. They have been ready for years now, waiting for the right person they will share their life with.
Others are married, and waiting for their spouse to catch the fire for Christ and follow him fully.
Some are waiting for babies, every month dragging by with fresh disappointment and longing hearts.
Some are waiting for a divorce to be final, waiting in pain for something they never wanted, but now waiting for this period of life to be over so they can move on.
Some are waiting for the career job. Four years of college behind them, facing school loans, and no job.
One friend is waiting, but not sure for what. She is just uncertain, feeling unfulfilled and frustrated.
Some close friends are waiting for adult children to give their lives to Christ. They were raised in church, hearing the truth, but as adults have turned away. Their parents hearts are breaking as they wait.
Some I know are waiting for a breakthrough. They struggle along in emotional or spiritual bondage and wait for something to snap so they will be free.
The Saturday between is HARD. But, we know, we know, that Sunday is coming, and with it resurrection. Those poor first followers of Jesus didn't know. They thought it was over, but we know.
I love the record of the resurrection in Luke 24. The women went to the tomb to anoint Jesus body with spices, but the tomb was empty...
" While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living One among the dead? "He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again." And they remembered His words," Luke 24:4-9
"Why do you seek the living one among the dead" are words that stir my spirit. He is the Living One we are looking for. We don't keep staring into an empty tomb, that doesn't help anything. We look to Him.
"Remember how He spoke to you..." What great advice. During the waiting, in between Saturday experiences, we can remember how Jesus has spoken to us.
AND, we can remember with such confidence and assurance, because we KNOW that resurrection is coming. Resurrection is sure.
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