“From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”
Matthew 16:21 (RSV)
Jesus warned His disciples about everything that was going to happen, in advance. They heard Him say that He would be killed and rise again on the third day. It doesn’t get much clearer than that, but it’s obvious that they didn’t comprehend what He was saying.
We know Peter didn’t understand it, from the way he fought to prevent His arrest. We know by the disciples’ skeptical response to Mary’s news that she saw the risen Jesus. Thomas’ reaction proved that in his mind, a resurrection was never even anticipated. We know from the events on the road to Emmaus, that the disciples never expected something as incredible as a bodily resurrection from the dead, after they watched how much the body of Jesus suffered, before death.
So everything Jesus told them was basically forgotten. While He was in a sealed tomb, completely absent from all of them during those days, hope was shattered. Not one disciple stood up and said,
“Hey, remember what Jesus told us about rising on the third day?”
If they had remembered what Jesus foretold about His resurrection, they would have camped out on the second night at His tomb, waiting for Him to rise the next morning.
Instead, their reaction was more as the prophet foretold, “Strike the shepherd, that the sheep may be scattered.” (Zechariah 13:7)
The disciples had scattered hopes and shattered dreams, after the joyful excitement of Palm Sunday, and then witnessing His cruel suffering and death. They had hoped that Jesus would bring about righteousness on the earth and destroy all evil. They didn’t understand that He is doing it, by changing one heart at a time.
We also can become discouraged by looking at the world around us. To summarize everything that Jesus has been saying to the world since He first came, it might sound like,
“I came for so much more than this, and I made you for so much more than this.”
He wants us to know how much we are loved and we can put our hope in His promises. The apostles were depressed because they forgot His promises and His purpose.
Just like the disciples, we have been blessed to have Jesus in our lives, but we have gone through many Fridays, filled with disappointments and sorrows. At times, it may feel like Jesus is sealed away in a tomb somewhere, but feelings are deceptive. His words are truth.
His words and promises assure us that because of Sunday, He is risen and alive today. He will never leave us and He invites us to keep coming to Him, in good times as well as bad. When we are heavily burdened, He invites us closer, promising to give us rest.
Just as God had a plan and purpose for that first Good Friday, He has a purpose for all those Fridays in our lives. Sunday is the promise of resurrection fulfilled, which makes all Fridays worthwhile. Sunday is coming for everyone who believes. Whatever challenges we are facing, we can be sure that Friday really is good, because Sunday is coming.
Lord, thank you for your truth and the power you left us through your resurrection. Lift up our hearts today with faith and hope to know that the Fridays in our lives will soon pass and Sunday is coming. Amen
HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!