We Already Know

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44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. 47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. (Luke 23:44-49)

After Jesus' crucifixion the disciples likely experienced a swirl of emotions and fear. Judas, although he tried to change course after Jesus was arrested, could not forgive himself for his role in the execution. He ended his own life, never having returned to the fold. The others were left questioning what they could have, or should have, done differently. They were likely equally perplexed over the way those of shared faith had conspired with the government to destroy a man and a movement that had brought wholeness to so many. Even though they had witnessed Jesus', often contentious, interactions with church leaders and they knew government officials were watching closely, they never really thought it would come to this. And, now that their own lives were also at stake, Jesus wasn't there to help or guide them. Powerless. Afraid. Confused. Distressed.

Many of us find ourselves in a similar emotional space right now. We feel the tension of differing strongly held beliefs and understandings. We are seeing first hand gross abuses of power by government officials. Previously unheard of alliances for the purposes of power and self-preservation are eroding any modicum of trust people once had in elected officials. We too are left asking what we could have, or should have, done differently. Even if we count ourselves among those who understood where things were heading politically, spiritually, or otherwise, we still watch, aghast, wondering what to do now.

We, however, have the benefit of knowing that the story didn't end on Good Friday. We know that, after three days, the tomb where Jesus had been laid was found empty. We know that Jesus continued to be present with the disciples, encouraging and guiding them. We know that, in the midst of fear and uncertainty, God kept them. The only things the disciples had to do were to be obedient to Jesus' instructions and wait. Since we know all of these things, we know exactly what to do now - be obedient to Jesus' teachings and wait on God to do what only God can do. God has never left nor forsaken God's people. Jesus got up, and we will too.

Hold on - Sunday's coming!

5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words. 9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. (Luke 24:5-12)