I've found myself sitting at a coffee shop in KC after being dropped off by one ride and waiting for another to take me back to Minnesota. My ride here had to go to work. My ride from here wasn't planning to meet me for awhile, so here I am. Waiting.
I don't mind it. I smile...it brings me back to what God is teaching me. Besides, it's kind of nice having blocked out time for solitude. I also enjoyed some down time at the same cafe on the way here for before Easter. And as I think about it, I can't help but think how appropriate it is.
It doesn't really get much air time in Scripture, but waiting was a big part of the Passion and Easter story. From Good Friday to Easter Sunday, Jesus' friends were waiting. Check it out.
Luke says:
It was Preparation Day. The Sabbath was about to begin. The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph. They saw the tomb and how Jesus' body was placed in it. Then they went home. There they prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath day in order to obey the Law. (Luke 23:54-56)
I don't really think they really got the fact that they were waiting for the resurrection. Jesus tried to explain it, but still, here we find the disciples hiding in fear for three days. The disciples were hiding, waiting for resolution. The women were waiting for Sabbath/Passover to end so they could go anoint Jesus' Body. Now that their Messiah was dead and the hope that they were looking for died, they were waiting for what would happen next. Regardless of what they would've liked to do, it was the Sabbath. They had to be still and wait in accordance with the Jewish law. The women were eager to go to Jesus' body. So eager that they prepared everything before the Sabbath, so they could leave right away when it broke. Until then, though, they could do nothing. No funeral ceremonies or preparations. No making casseroles for the bereaved family or picking hymns. No ordering flowers. They had to wait. Waiting was and is difficult.
The three days. It's the down time between death and new life. It's often where we live now--experiencing the effects of brokenness and not yet in the full resurrection that is coming. Jesus saying to us: "Wait. There's nothing you can do. Let me make all things new. Let me show my glory." Boy, did he. In a way those women could've never imagined (see stones will roll for more on that story).
And as I sit here waiting, I wonder if it could be beneficial to us to live life in a Holy Week cycle.
Without being a Debbie downer, I'll be honest. In my world (and if you're honest, in your world), Good Friday looms all year round. Every time I get dropped off by someone I love, it's a little Good Friday. It hurts. Friends experience difficult times. Death happens. Great experiences come to an end. Good Friday keeps popping up.
But Good Friday always gives way to a victorious Sunday. Jesus comes and does make all things new.
My days, weeks, months, and years are filled with glimpses of Easter. Creation is so excited with new life that it can't be contained! Take a new day, for example. It's a new chance for life. A new shot at living life to the full and bringing life to others. Every time I get picked up by someone I love, it's a little Easter. New life is breathed into me. New opportunity. New fun and stories. A new journey.
From something dead comes life. That's Easter, people. It's all around us. I pray that God would give us eyes that eagerly look for Easter when hints of Good Friday loom. That we would have hearts that can't help but wait to see Christ glorified in darkness. In times of death and brokenness, we would see it as another opportunity for Christ to bring His resurrection to life in our lives. God help us to trust the end of the story. Give us lives of hope--hope knowing that death couldn't hold You. Hope that promises in all things You're working for Your glory and our good. Help us not to be stuck on Good Friday, but excited for Sunday. You're good, Lord. Thanks for Sunday. Thank you that we have something sure that we're waiting for--that we can live in Your Holy Week.
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