The Day In Between

The anticipation of the day of His rising is brimming all around us ... about to bubble over in Hallelujah after Hallelujah.  It's not hard for us on this side of the resurrection to feel excitement at the anticipation of a day that marks His triumph over that last enemy... even death itself.  But have you ever pondered what this day inbetween held for those closest to Jesus?

His nearest friends, the disciples, couldn't even keep their eyes open as he had directed them to pray lest they fall into temptation.  To be fair, this was not the fatigue we feel from long days of busyness or the malaise of the "blah" we may feel on a given day.  The Bible says it was from sorrow they slept. Stumbling from the guilt of their slumber, they watched as Jesus was arrested. Though he had told of the hour of His betrayal, the shock was still real and each forsook and fled his own way.  They didn't run away together that they might be comforted with the reminders of their time with Him and the words He spoke.  What a time of great despair this must have been. Did any think of running away as far as they could or even despaired unto death as the psalmist speaks of?  Similar to the psalmist however, they had not been left without hope. If they could just believe that what He said would come to pass... that He would rise from the grave on the next day.

Or what of our Lord's mother? We know she stood at His feet as he breathed His last.  Jesus was her son but moreso He was her Saviour.  Could she muster up the hope that He would live again, in the face of her overwhelming grief?  Or Martha who had been told by Jesus Himself that He was indeed the resurrection and the life?  She and her sister, Mary, had witnessed tbe raising of their brother, Lazarus, on the 4th day after his death.  And what about Lazarus himself?  Surely he could set the record straight and declare his utter expectation that Jesus would rise.  But no such declaration is recorded.  Little is written about the activity of Jesus' nearest and dearest on this day in between His death and resurrection.

Are you weak in faith today?  Do you wonder how things that seem unclear will ever be made clear?  Is there a hope in you that is rising with anticipation at all the promises He will yet fulfill? Or are you dull to all of this, bogged down with tbe cares of your busy days and nights?  Does anything matter more than the anticipation of seeing that empty tomb and knowing that all the powers of hell and earth could not hold Him?  Do you live in hope and expectation that He will indeed come again to judge the earth and all who love His appearing through all the ages will be with Him forever? We know that on this day in between the disciples felt a wide range of emotions.  One thing is certain to me,  once they saw their Lord, it was the most amazing hope fulfilled in their lifetime.  Doubting, despairing, feeble and frail ones, will you look to Him for the hope you desperately need?  For indeed each and every one of His promises will come to pass.