Students and especially writers and teachers of the Bible should mentally place themselves at the scene of a narrative and ask the five ‘W’s—who was there, when did it take place, where did it occur, why did it happen, and what you see, hear, feel, smell, and taste. Put yourself with the disciples after the crucifixion and burial of Jesus. People never forget the rollercoaster of emotions they felt after the burial of a loved one. No death is easy, but the pain and grief reaches far deeper when it is an unexpected tragedy of a friend in the prime of life. Even more daunting for the disciples, continually flashing through their minds were vivid images of Jesus’ naked body, caked with dried blood and blood still dripping from the shredded flesh of His back. The stench of rot from hundreds of previous crucifixions lingered in their clothes. The sound of the hammer striking the nails echoed in their brain. Neither could they escape the cacophony of screams, mockery, and the jeers in the background of Him gasping to bring air in and push it out from His asphyxiating lungs. The disciples, mostly young men and women, had committed their entire lives to follow Him. For three years they believed, He would set up His eternal Kingdom and each of them would have a special place. In less than twenty-four hours, all their hopes, dreams, and goals crumbled. Now they were devastated, afraid, and locked in a room hiding. Outside the Jews continued celebrating the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
The process of grief would have moved beyond denial, they knew He was dead. Now they were entering the stage of anger. Consider the thoughts and questions going through their minds. “Why did the Father allow this to happen?” “Were we totally deceived?” “Could we have done more to protect Him?” “What do we do now?” “Will the Jews arrest and crucify us?” They would have recalled scripture after scripture, but none resolved their confusion—Why? Why? Why? Their understanding of the Old Testament fell short. They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead (Jn 20:9 NIV). Had they forgotten or could they not connect Jesus resurrecting the widow’s son at Nain or the recent resurrection of Lazarus? Jesus had forewarned them He would suffer and die. From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day (Mat 16:21). Mark also records this occasion plus two others when Jesus shared what would happen to Him (Mk 9:31, 10:34). In all three occasions, He clearly assured them He would rise three days later. Did the disciples miss this or just refuse to accept it as Peter had done when he rebuked Jesus concerning this announcement?
Death is not the only ‘day after’ experience we face in life that can leave us distraught without hope. We all face different situations — failed marriages, loss of your job, you are assaulted or raped, your house destroyed, personal failure, debilitating illness, or a host of other tragedies. Yet, all have one thing in common with the disciples, tomorrow is a new day when God can do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think (Eph 3:20). Yet hopelessness can sometimes consume us. On Sunday morning, they were still mourning and weeping (Mk 16:10). The apostle’s despondency overwhelmed them to the point that when the women came and repeatedly told them He was alive, the apostles didn’t believe a word of it, [and] thought they were making it all up (Lk 24:11 MSG). Other versions translate this, these words appeared to them as nonsense, seemed to them an idle tale, and seemed foolish to them. When Mary Magdalene came and reported she had actually seen Him, they refused to believe it. On Sunday night Jesus came and stood in their mist, still they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit (Lk 24:37).
Faith, based on the Word and empowered by the Holy Spirit is an essential element of our Christian journey. However, some tragedies can propel us beyond our faith. The disciples had not comprehended the scripture or the words Jesus shared about His resurrection leaving them without anything in which to hope. Neither did they yet have the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, filling their hearts. They remained clueless that the next day the Father would perform a miracle beyond anything anyone had ever imagined. The disciples lived in the here and now. They had expected He would set up His Kingdom at that time, but Jesus was preparing His eternal Kingdom. You may be in your ‘day after’, your faith is gone, you are angry, and have no hope left. Remember tomorrow is a new day. The resurrection of your tragedy may not happen immediately, but rest in God’s promise He will never leave you—the Comforter dwells in you. You may never understand all the whys you have asked, but He knows and has a plan beyond your greatest dreams. Ground your faith, not in what He can do, but in who Christ is. God does not abandon us when we are overwhelmed and consumed in despondency by a sudden tragedy or an untimely death.
Sustaining Word for the Week: Live in the light of eternity and not the shadows of yesterday.