Easter Thoughts

Easter aka resurrection Sunday is an amazing time of celebration, but even when we’re aware of the supernatural aspect of it (Jesus being raised from the dead) we often overlook or ignore the natural aspect, that is, how the people around Jesus would’ve approached the first “Resurrection Sunday”

They didn’t know it was a resurrection day. You could argue they should’ve known based on what Jesus told them, but how often has God told you something over and over and over and then when it happens, you’re still shocked? On this side of Jesus’ resurrection, we can call it “Good” Friday. But for the disciples and the people who had chosen to sacrifice everything they knew for a teacher who didn’t have a teaching degree or any training, it was a VERY dark weekend.

Did they make the right choice?

Would their families and neighbors accept them back into the synagogues after they’d followed Jesus for so long?

Could they get their old jobs back?

Would they be chased and suffer the same way Jesus did?

If Jesus could be killed, does anything he said actually mean anything?

I mean, Peter was so worked up by all this that he not only lied, but swore, cursed, and pinky promised that he didn’t know Jesus.

This guy who a couple hours before, was such a defender of Jesus, that he cut some guys ear off! (Even when asked by an eyewitness to the attack, Peter still denied it.

People walking by Jesus on the cross we’re calling him out for saying he would raise the temple but couldn’t raise himself.

Then when He dies, there’s a huge earthquake, a massive commotion in the tabernacle, and other tombs busted open.

Through all of this, imagine Jesus, followers watching all this happening. Feeling helpless

They thought he was dead dead.

They mourned and lamented him as he carried the cross up the hill,

They prepared spices to go and anoint the dead body, as was custom for recently deceased people.

Then even when it was reported that the tomb was empty, the disciples, those CLOSEST to Jesus, didn’t believe what they heard. They thought it was impossible so they had to go see for themselves and were amazed.

Easter IS about Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, defeating death and the grave, and being raised back to life. But we can’t overlook the human element too. People, like us, watched their dreams and hopes for freedom and purpose die brutally. They buried His very dead body in a dark cave. They prepared to give final honor and figure out how to move on.

Jesus is alive, and He’s still working and moving. Don’t miss what He’s saying to you and what he wants to do in and through you just because it looks different than you expected. Our hope is in Jesus. Our life is in Jesus.

Happy resurrection Sunday!