The everyday stillness hovered over the room where the eleven remaining disciples hid. Other believers lingered as well. Sabbath had been observed, and a new day dawned. Time to get back to work? But where? A fishing boat? That reputation was long-gone. It was abandoned to follow Jesus.
There was a quiet stir among them as the men began to rise. Peter again paced and wrung his hands. James and John sharpened their swords. How quickly they shifted back into old habits – into battle mode – from three years of learning of peace, love, and forgiveness. No one said a word. The plans and assumptions, laced with fear, had dominated the conversation for the last 48 hours. They will come for us next; we have to be ready. No, Jesus said he’d come back in three days, right? That’s what he said. Did he specifically say three days? How is that possible? The tomb is sealed; guards are there and everywhere. There was nothing left to say; now, just emotions wandered among them – anxiety, fear, and a little hope that Jesus would come back and rule the kingdom. That’s what he said, right?
A knock, no, a pounding on the door brought a collective fear to everyone’s hearts. Here we go, we’re next, they’ve come for us. No one moved. The pounding persisted. Authorities wouldn’t wait; they would have broken down the door.
James sheathed his sword and went to answer, ignoring the hushed “no” from the others. With one hand on his sword and the other on the door latch, he opened the door. Battle did not ensue, but it was the women who burst in, all talking at once. “You must come see. Jesus is gone. The tomb…the tomb is empty.” Excitement replaced hesitancy as the women exuberantly told of their dawn’s journey. We went to perform the burial ritual. We got there, and… there were angels… and the guards had fallen… the massive stone was rolled away… the tomb was open and EMPTY. You must come with us to see.
The men gathered up their cloaks, but Peter was already out the door.
Peter found the women’s story to be true. Unbelievable. The man walked right out of his grave!
Thousands of years later, we can walk out of our graves. The angst that traps us into a paralyzing stillness has no more power. The grave that traps us in the guilt of our sin and imperfections. The grave that keeps us from reaching for our dreams and living in hope. The darkness that taunts us even in the light of day. It’s all been overpowered by the God who provides life-giving strength. The God who is bigger than…you fill in the blank with the beast that chases you. The man walked out of his grave by the power of God, who overcomes all our graves.
Happy Easter – Resurrection Sunday. May today be our first steps into a journey of hope, forgiveness, and joy.
All the best,
KK
KK's Candor 