“They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by.”
John 19:40-42 (NAB)
Lent is only a few weeks away, and as we take extra time to remember the events of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, we first focus on His suffering and His passion, which reminds us of our atonement and forgiveness. It better prepares us to appreciate His Sunday morning resurrection.
During the first nine months after conception, Jesus occupied Mary’s womb. For three days after His death, He occupied a new unused tomb, donated by Joseph of Arimathea. Jesus went from a virgin womb to a virgin tomb. It was all part of the plan of God’s love for us.
It felt like the world stood still for the disciples during those three days. They forgot what Jesus said to Martha when they stood with Him at the tomb of Lazarus, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die. (John 11:25)
The prophets foretold everything that the Messiah would suffer and Jesus knew all those prophecies, but He also told His disciples that He would rise from the dead. (Matthew16:21)
Jesus knew that His suffering and death was part of the plan, and He shared it with His disciples, but it didn’t resonate, and they seemed to lose heart after He died. It’s difficult to focus on infinite truths when we are thinking in terms of the finite situation.
God’s purposes and plans are eternity based, and in His love for us, all things work together for our good. No one is a mere victim of circumstance. That’s why Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy will be done.”
At the end of the day on that Friday, Jesus was laid in a sealed tomb. His disciples no longer saw Him, or heard his voice, and were uncertain of what to do next. Like frightened sheep without a shepherd, their hearts were filled with a lot of disappointment, but only a small amount of hope.
Sunday morning changed things and that hope was fulfilled through the bodily resurrection of Jesus.
Whatever challenges and sorrows we face on the Fridays of our lives, Sunday is still coming, and that’s why Friday is good. Hope kept the disciples from Friday through to Sunday morning, when Jesus rose from the dead and walked out of His tomb.
With all our hope in the infinite God, we believe that Sunday is coming. It’s coming for all of us who have survived the difficult Fridays of life. Hope is what keeps us through all our disappointments, our faith shaking trials or the silence that makes it feel like Jesus is separated from us, and still buried in a sealed tomb.
We are trusting in His love for us and every promise that Jesus spoke through the gospels. Friday is good because Sunday is coming. God promised us that weeping may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5)
Lord, thank you for Sunday morning hope. Refresh and comfort all who are grieving any kind of loss today, and assure their hearts and minds with the hope that brings us all to Sunday morning joy. Amen