May we live everyday with the peace and joy of Easter Sunday.
As I sit writing this, on the Monday after Easter, I find myself drawn back to Saturday. I think that often, as Christians who live on the Easter Sunday side of the cross, we often forget about the weight of that Saturday.
I keep thinking about all of the emotions that must have been flying around. According to the Gospels, everyone who watched Jesus die, also witnessed an eclipse and an earthquake. How could they be walking around on Saturday without pondering those things? The Gospels also tell us that the curtain in the temple was torn in two. How did the Jews in charge rationalize that to themselves?
But, I think I find the most empathy for Jesus’ closest followers, the ones who walked with Him, the ones who witnessed all of the miracles. These people had seen Him heal many. They had seen Him resurrect others from the dead. They had broken bread with Him and one had denied Him.
Did they now doubt that He was who He said He was? The Bible said they were afraid and in hiding, but I wonder where their faith was? Did they still believe He was the son of God?
I suppose that Saturday interests me so much because I think that as modern-day Christians, we too, often find ourselves living in the Saturday. We have walked with Jesus. We have seen the miracles. We have read the Scripture. We know that He is coming back. We know that we will be with Him someday in His Father’s house.
But, like that Saturday over two thousand years ago, we sometimes begin to doubt. We have earthly issues like sickness and debt. We have issues like divorces and wars. We can sometimes let those issues take front and center in our thoughts. We become anxious and filled with fear just like the first disciples did.
Did Jesus really say that we should be at peace? Did He really say not to worry because He had overcome the world? Did He really say He was preparing a room for us in His Father’s house?
That’s when we have to remember to focus on Sunday, because Easter gives us a resounding “Yes!” to all of those questions. Easter Sunday is our greatest reminder to live with the confidence that only Jesus can provide.
Yes, we are loved. Yes, we are forgiven. Yes, He is in control. Yes, He is coming back. In the end, that’s all we need to know.
May we learn to live like everyday is Easter Sunday, filled with the peace and joy of the good news.
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂