Today’s devotion is based on the Easter Message: Hope Revealed (Watch Here)
Sorry that this morning’s devotion is a little late.
I have to admit, I was tired yesterday and didn’t do much of anything after worship and cleaning up from Easter breakfast.
I wonder what the Monday after the resurrection of Jesus was like for his followers.
I bet they were physically and emotionally tired.
An early morning visit to the tomb, which may have taken a few hours to finish preparing Jesus’ body for burial, turned into an all day discussion and interaction about seeing the risen Jesus alive!
A race to the tomb by Peter and John, led to curiosity about the report of the women and whether it was true if Jesus was alive.
Two Emmaus disciples walking home after being in Jerusalem, encounter an Old Testament history lesson concerning the Messiah, only to realize it was Jesus himself. A swift walk or run back to Jerusalem left them a bit out of breath as they reported to the others,
Luke 24:33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. “36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 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.”
At what point did they fall asleep of exhaustion?
We don’t know what they did the Monday after Easter, but my guess is they didn’t move on to normal “Monday” activities. The events of the crucifixion and resurrection were still very much real and raw in their minds.
If it were me, I would be tired. Afraid, yet filled with joy. In belief and disbelief at the same time. Wanting to see Jesus today, just to confirm that last night was not a hallucination or imagination. Conversations would want to figure out the connections between what we remember Jesus saying and all the things that happened in Jerusalem that weekend.
What about the future? Would we see Jesus again? Was it safe to head home? Where was home after following Jesus for three years. He didn’t have a place to lay his head, we kind of gave that up too.
We are 2000 years or so from the event, but I pray that the Monday after Easter isn’t just a “return to normal” after a busy Easter weekend. I pray that questions and thoughts percolate in your heart and mind today. Perhaps even some of the questions that the followers of Jesus may have thought.
What’s next, if it is true that Jesus lives?
What questions have been answered? What questions do I still have?
What impact does his resurrection have on my spiritual journey?
Does it change what I believe or how I live?
Does it give me hope amidst the challenges I face today?
The fact that we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus yesterday is credibility that his rising from the dead still has a profound impact in the hearts and minds of people.
I pray it does for you today…even if you are starting off a little tired.
Apply: Take time today to contemplate the significance of Christ’s resurrection in your life today and the impact it has and will have moving forward.
Prayer: Lord, Jesus into our fears, our questions, our doubts, our weariness you come to show yourself alive to quiet our fears, answer our questions, clear our doubts, and renew our spirits. We ask that you would do that for us today as you did for your followers the days after your resurrection. AMEN.