Monday Hope.

Happy Easter Monday.

Did you enjoy your celebration of Jesus’ resurrection yesterday?

Here we are, nicely into a new season of spring, Easter is behind us . . . what now?

If you are a “cup half-empty” type of person, then maybe that’s it until summer vacation followed by Christmas.  The days will become long, dark, and cold.  We will bundle ourselves up in layers, shovel snow, and worry about driving conditions.  Yup, that’s it.  Let the Eeyores of the world unite.

I know that sounds kind of silly, but it is exactly how Jesus’ disciples felt on that first Sunday after Jesus’ resurrection.  Matthew and Mark note the events of the resurrection happened “after the Sabbath.”  Luke and John document it as “the first day of the week.”  Of course it is the same thing, but for Luke and John (who wrote their Gospels quite a bit after Matthew and Mark), the focus had changed to the “new thing.”  Luke also notes the early church developed the habit of gathering on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7).  In the moment, though, Jesus’ followers were thoroughly confused about what was happening, and why.

Luke also notes that the women who went to the tomb early on Sunday morning and found it empty told “the apostles” (a later term for the men who walked with Jesus) “but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them” (Luke 24:11). Peter and John take it upon themselves to verify the account, run to the tomb, and wonder of wonders, the ladies have it right!  It IS empty.  They are not truly confused.

Later in that same chapter, we learn that the disciples were huddled away when Jesus suddenly appeared to them.  Their reaction?  “They still disbelieved for joy and were marvelling” (v. 41).  John adds the details, “the doors were locked because of fear of the Jews” (John 20:19).  Mark also documents the disciples’ struggle to believe in chapter 16.

What’s the point?  Why are these Gospel writers so careful to document the disciples’ incredulity at this historic event?  Let’s be careful to not throw our own darts at them;  we would probably react the same way.

Here are two key reasons why the disciples struggled:  in the heat of the moment (remember, they are still struggling with the trauma of seeing Jesus crucified along with all their preconceived ideas of “Messiah” was going to be), and they did not fully understand that THIS moment in history was going to change ALL of history from that moment forward.  

To put it simply, they just didn’t understand.  They reacted as normal people do in times of grief and trauma.  From their perspective, the three years they invested in being with Jesus were now a waste of time.  While in their broken emotional state, they probably heaped shame on themselves, blamed one another (“I should never have listened to you”) and wondered how they would get out of this mess.  Hence, the locked door.

We never make those mistakes, do we?  

Just in case we do . . . let’s remember that “believing” seldom happens in one, fell swoop.  We grow in our understanding and it is easy to be confused.  Belief does not erase the dynamics of grief, loss, or trauma.  It DOES provide a context in which we can process those things, given time and the commitment to continue to pursue what is true.  

For all their disbelief, Jesus did not scold them.  He accepted Thomas’ challenge and showed him the pierced hands.  He cooked breakfast for Peter and gave him a “Peter-sized” responsibility, custom made for him, a responsibility that fit Peter’s own journey toward spiritual maturity.  Is it any wonder that Peter later wrote, “Grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18)?

The key factor in transitioning from disbelief to belief is the resurrection.  This unprecedented moment in history changes everything.  It validates God’s supreme authority over all things.  It confirms that the work on the cross was sufficient for all time.  God’s holy standard has been satisfied.  We see, in our time and space, the ultimate display of love, grace, and hope.  

There is a new thing that God is doing.  Sometimes, in the grit and grind of life, it is hard to believe that.  Our “Eeyore-ness” can easily displace our joy.  Yet the resurrection screams otherwise.  If God can raise Jesus from the dead (and He did), then what is He doing in our lives to transform us (and He is!)?  We don’t celebrate Easter as a one-and-done-until-next-year.  The transformational power of the resurrection is at work in us continually (Phil. 3:10).  

Like the disciples, we will struggle to understand what God is doing.  That’s normal and perfectly OK.  After all, we are not God!  Also like the disciples, we can grow in our understanding of the significance of the resurrection - how God’s authority is boldly displayed, how it can fill us with joy, and how it is the ultimate source of hope.

Need a primer on these things?  Read Peter’s sermon in Acts 4:1-13 (especially v 13) and Paul’s sermon in Acts 13:16-52 (especially v 52).  It will take only 5 more minutes.

It is Monday.  He is still risen!