Can you imagine being one of the ladies that went to the tomb that morning? They came to care for the body of Jesus. This was customary…necessitated by Jewish Law. Bodies were to always find burial before sundown. And since Jesus died a criminal’s death, he received a criminal’s tomb. His body needed care until the time came for his remains (bones) to be moved to a family tomb out of the criminal’s tomb.
Can you imagine the shock they felt deep within themselves? They wouldn’t be able to move his remains to a family tomb. Or what about the desperation in their voices as they asked where his body was taken? The feeling of hopelessness must have been overwhelming. There was no way they could see this puzzle piece fitting into God’s plan to save them.
The tomb was empty but filled with hope. His body hadn’t been taken. It was resurrected by God. Jesus conquered sin. He conquered death.
And because he did, we can claim hope. We can believe that something good can come out of something terrible. However, we often suffer from the same hopeless feeling they felt when Jesus died or when they found his criminal tomb empty. We don’t understand or can see how this puzzle piece of our lives fits into his plan.
And this is where faith fits. It’s claiming Jesus’ words in John.
These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world
In Jesus, no matter the circumstances, we have peace. The outside may be a tumult. But within, there is peace and courage to take. Why? Because Jesus overcame the world.
What does that mean for you and me? It means that we face challenging times. Jobs will be lost. Loved ones die unexpectedly. Disease shows itself. Family members we love take a path that’s not healthy.
But we never face them alone. Hope says we face them with the One who conquered, who overcame. And because Jesus did, we can choose to believe that something good can come out of something bad if we put our trust in Jesus.
So this Easter season, examine yourself. If you don’t have a relationship with Jesus, why not trust him with your heart? If you have a relationship with him, why not seek to trust him in areas you’ve not released to him. He knows far better what to do with those areas than we ever would.
You are loved!
