AFTER EVERY GOOD FRIDAY IS A RESURRECTION - Thoughts on a Holy Saturday

The afternoon shadows grow long and the light grows dim.  The end of the second day and the Jewish Sabbath.   

Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome were waiting for the end of the Sabbath and first light to finish preparing Jesus’ body for burial.  Jesus’ followers hid behind locked doors, not knowing what awaited them in the morning.

Waiting is the hardest part when death or tragedy steals our dreams, our hopes and our future.  What were they going to do, those disciples who had totally invested their hearts and their lives in Jesus’ teachings and promises?  Resurrection, if it came, seemed too far away. 

They were afraid; they were grieving.  They probably felt lost and disorientated.  Did they wonder where God was in all of this?  Did they question the purpose of the last three years of their lives?

Waiting in times of sorrow and suffering is terribly, terribly hard.  Hearts continue to ache as sorrow dogs our steps.  Sometimes it seems like it will never stop.  Look at the story of Job.

In a sweeping tragedy, Job lost all his children and his livelihood.  In response, Job tore his clothes and sat among the ashes.  If that isn't enough, then he broke out in skin sores from head to toe.  It’s not unusual for someone in deep mourning to lose interest in personal appearance and self care, including eating.  Sometimes, the stress of grief causes physical illness.

On top of this, Job suffered from the good intentions of three friends who offered platitudes and then literally told him to, “Suck it up cupcake!  You did something to cause all this, so ‘fess up and get over it!” 

In the middle of this, Job expressed this hope:

 "But I know that my redeemer is alive

        and afterward he’ll rise upon the dust.
 After my skin has been torn apart this way—
    then from my flesh I’ll see God,"            Job 19:25-26 (CEV)

“I know my redeemer lives … I’ll see God.”  Even though he couldn’t feel God with him, Job knew that God was with him, and he would eventually see God in all of the suffering and grief.

Psalm 30:5 tells us that weeping, sorrowing and suffering last for a season, but there is an end to it.  In that ending, there is new life and joy.

That’s what the disciples discovered on the third day.  The tomb was empty, and their redeemer, Christ Jesus, had been raised from the dead and was alive!  What joy!

Because of Christ’s resurrection, we who are followers of Christ have the gift of eternal life and the hope of the resurrection of our bodies.  More joy!

Resurrections happen all the time.  I’m not talking about a bodily resurrection.  Everyday, out of the midst of sorrow, suffering, tragedy and impossible situations, Jesus is bringing new life.  Everyday, Jesus is giving broken hearts new reasons for joy.

New life takes many forms.  Out of suffering and grief is given the gift of compassion.  Having never experienced such sorrow and tragedy, Job’s friends couldn’t comprehend his grief.  Our experiences bless us with the ability to walk with others through similar experiences and be truly supportive friends.

Change can help us examine our lives.  We may discover that God has new possibilities for us that we never dreamed of.  There may be a future awaiting for us that is far better than anything we could plan for ourselves.

Our experiences of God’s presence with us through the toughest times grows our trust in God.  It also becomes a source of stories that can encourage and inspire others.  Whenever I hear one of these stories I think, “Wow, if God can do that in someone else’s life, I know God will be there for me, too.”

Tomorrow, we will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  After every Good Friday there is a resurrection.  We can also celebrate that out of every change, loss, pain and tragedy in our lives, there is a resurrection, the blessing of new life.  Our redeemer lives and is with us, working for our good.