Grief Turned to Joy
Today's lesson is about the disciples and the resurrection. Peter and John run to the tomb after hearing the news that Jesus is no longer in the tomb. Mary had declared to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put Him [John 20:2]." John gets to the tomb first but does not go in. Peter is bold and goes inside the tomb. Sure enough Jesus is not there. The linen strips are just lying there. The linen cloth which had been wrapped around Jesus' head was folded neatly.
I wonder how these two disciples felt at hearing the news that Jesus was not in the tomb. Did they feel bewildered and confused? Were they anxious about the Roman soldiers and how they would react to hearing such news? Were they full of hope or were they feeling hopeless?
Death. The Bible declares it is an enemy. The last enemy to be defeated [1 Cor. 15:26]. You may have heard about the stages of grief when a loved one dies - denial, anger, bargaining, depression and then acceptance. Acceptance is seen as the final stage of grief but if we are in Christ the final stage has not come until we allow God to bring forth resurrection life. Acceptance of death, yes. But even more than that the acceptance of resurrection life.
As Christians we do not grieve as those who have no hope [1 Thessalonians 4:13]. We grieve. We have sadness. We cry tears over those loved ones who have gone on before us. But we have a hope. That death is not final. For the Christian there is a resurrection coming. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning [Psalm 30:5]. Remember Jesus is the resurrection and the life [John 11:25]. Put your hope in Him!!
I wonder how these two disciples felt at hearing the news that Jesus was not in the tomb. Did they feel bewildered and confused? Were they anxious about the Roman soldiers and how they would react to hearing such news? Were they full of hope or were they feeling hopeless?
Death. The Bible declares it is an enemy. The last enemy to be defeated [1 Cor. 15:26]. You may have heard about the stages of grief when a loved one dies - denial, anger, bargaining, depression and then acceptance. Acceptance is seen as the final stage of grief but if we are in Christ the final stage has not come until we allow God to bring forth resurrection life. Acceptance of death, yes. But even more than that the acceptance of resurrection life.
As Christians we do not grieve as those who have no hope [1 Thessalonians 4:13]. We grieve. We have sadness. We cry tears over those loved ones who have gone on before us. But we have a hope. That death is not final. For the Christian there is a resurrection coming. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning [Psalm 30:5]. Remember Jesus is the resurrection and the life [John 11:25]. Put your hope in Him!!
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