PROMISES KEPT

PROMISES KEPT

“What Mary found that first Easter morning was a miracle, an empty tomb, and the sweetest words ever spoken: “He is not here: for He is risen.” Mary came looking for her Lord and found hope. Where she thought she would find death, she found Life. This is why Easter means hope – because of Him, because of His promise of Life Everlasting. When Life seems empty and confusing, when the world seems dark and uncertain, when you worry and wonder how to carry on, remember the promise of Easter. Always, there is hope.” (Judy Byington)

 

Yesterday Jane and I were talking about the multitude who gathered for the feast of Passover when Jesus came before Pilate. Jane asked, “What about the blind man that Jesus healed? What about the woman who touched the hem of his garment? What about the lame man at the pool of Bethesda? And the boy who was delivered of demons, and the lepers? Weren’t some of them in that crowd?”

 

I realized, then, that the number of people in that crowd who didn’t want Jesus crucified was larger than I’d thought. And yet the demonic priests and their followers must have shouted louder and longer to do what they did:

 

“The chief priests moved the people, that he [Pilate] should rather release Barabbas unto them.

 

“And Pilate answered and said again unto them, ‘What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?’

 

“And they cried out again, ‘Crucify him.’ Then Pilate said unto them, ‘Why, what evil hath he done?’ And they cried out the more exceedingly, ‘Crucify him’” (Mark 15: 11-14).

 

Jane and I talked about how horrible it must have been for Jesus’ followers that day. Jesus taught them about the true God. He opened the Old Testament scriptures to them. He healed them, delivered them from devils, and showed them the way to a better life. And now he was gone. Who would teach them? Who would heal them? Who would comfort them? Would they now be enslaved again to Roman cruelty and a life without hope? How terrifying was it for them?

 

We see later that even the apostles were shaken. Peter went back to fishing. What else was he supposed to do? He was devastated just like the rest of Jesus’ followers. Very few of the true believers could even remember what Jesus promised them. When the soldiers led Jesus to the cross, “there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him” (Luke 23:27). That had to be one of the most horrible days any believer has ever had to face on earth! The people were sobbing and crying, beside themselves with anguish, but they could do nothing to change it.

 

I know you’ve been aware of how windy, cloudy, and dark the atmosphere can get sometimes, and you know it’s not normal, but it’s a spiritual churning, a feeling of loss and devastation is in the air. Luke tells us that just before Jesus died, there was such enormous darkness over the land that even the sun was dark:

 

“And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, ‘Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit’: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. (Luke 23:44-46).

 

To most of the people there, all was lost. It was over.

 

Sometimes even today, with what we know about God and Jesus and the Bible and with all the truth we know, we still end up in a hopeless place in our minds and hearts, just like these people did over 2000 years ago. But God didn’t forget about them then, and He will never forget about us now.

 

Jesus rose from the dead, just like he said he would. He made an end of death for everyone who believes in him. None of us will die. We only pass over into something more beautiful and new. Like Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2b).

 

Because Jesus did what he did for us, we never have to fear anything at all. We always can know that Jesus squashed death. The devil has nothing he can do to take that reality away, ever!

 

Even when we feel like those believers on the day that Jesus was crucified, there’s the promise of God, everlasting life. It’s a life without sickness, fear, sadness, and loss. Yes, we can experience those things right now too, but there’s a day coming when EVERYTHING will be TOTALLY FULL OF HIS LIGHT and TOTALLY FULL OF HIS GOODNESS. JESUS CHRIST HAS RISEN!

 

Love, Carolyn

Jane found the first quote in this preach letter this morning on the internet, written by Judy Byington (Restored Republic)