“Friday was terrible! Everything went wrong!” grumbled Marcus. “Things are hopeless.” “Oh Marcus,” sympathized Sherry. “I know Friday was devastating, but I trust that one day Sunday’s hope will come.”
This Easter there seemed to be a theme on the radio; It’s Friday but Sunday’s coming. The DJ’s referred to Friday as the crucifixion and Sunday as the resurrection. In retrospect it’s easy to see both of those days as good.
I know Easter is past, but it’s interesting to think about how the disciples felt when the events occurred and if we experience the same thing.
WHAT IS OUR FRIDAY AND SUNDAY?
For us, Friday represents times of hopelessness, but Sunday represents our hope.
HOW ABOUT THE DISCIPLES?
IMAGINE WALKING IN THEIR SHOES!
Friday was not good.
Friday represented fear, doubt and hopelessness.
Why?
At the time of Jesus, Rome dominated the Jewish people. The disciples, like all Jews, were looking for a Messiah to deliver them from decadent pagan practices, Roman oppression and corrupt religious leaders. They thought Jesus was the Messiah who would overthrow the Romans and usher in the kingdom of God finally giving them peace.
Then Jesus was arrested.
The disciples had followed Jesus putting their hope in Him. He was more than their friend; Jesus was their deliverer. All of a sudden, their hopes for deliverance were crushed. Fear and doubt overtook their faith as they fled, distancing themselves from Jesus at his arrest.
Then Jesus was crucified.
In the disciple’s minds, things probably went from bad to worse!
What a struggle the disciples would have had with doubts, fears and emotional turmoil over losing their friend and deliverer. Questions likely pounded their thoughts; Was Jesus divine or just a wise teacher? Who would deliver them now? Because they followed Him would they lose their lives?
For 3 days they despaired,
but then Sunday came & everything changed.
SUNDAY BROUGHT HOPE
When the women came to Jesus’ tomb to anoint His body, the angel said,
He is not here, but is risen!
Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,
saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men,
and be crucified,
and the third day rise again.’
Luke 24:6-7
At first the disciples doubted the reports of His resurrection. Even though Jesus said He would rise, they didn’t quite get it, did they? That’s why they had doubts, fears and hopelessness.
But when Sunday came,
they saw the evidence of the truth of His word.
Jesus had risen!
Now, the disciples who had run away in fear, had their faith and hope restored and strengthened.
“Look at my hands and my feet.
It is I myself!
Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones,
as you see I have,”
Luke 24:39 NIV
At the time Friday didn’t look good, but looking back they could see that the bad events were used for great good.
For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only Son,
that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life,
John 3:16 ESV
OUR FRIDAYS CAN BE GOOD!
How often do we despair, but when we look back, we see the evidence of the Lord’s hand? Maybe things didn’t go the way we planned, but they were all used for good; even the bad things.
And we know
that all things work together for good
to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose,
Romans 8:28
WHAT WILL OUR TOMORROW BRING?
What looks devastating today, may be different tomorrow. The darkest of times can change in a moment, in hours, in days. in the darkest moments when it seems all hope is lost, what do we do? We wait, pray & look to Jesus for our Sunday.
We never know when our Sunday is coming.
We just have faith.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen,
Hebrews 11:1
WHATEVER WE ARE FACING.
LET’S WAIT IN FAITH FOR OUR SUNDAY TO COME.
Now may the God of hope
fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit,
Romans 15:13
REFLECTION
Can you wait in faith for your Sunday?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, as I write Romans 15:13 and say it aloud, fill me with joy and peace in believing. Empower me with Your Holy Spirit to wait in faith for my Sunday of hope to come. In Jesus name. Amen.
HAVE FAITH FOR SUNDAY TO COME
Comment!
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*For information on making Jesus Christ your Savior, email me or visit, http://www.peacewithgod.net/
Photo tomb, Jesus_is_our_only_hope
Photo feet, rcascoherrera
Photo child, li wubin
