Quite often, as I read different scenes from the biblical narrative, I find myself judging the actions of men and women harshly. I may say to myself, “If that were me, I would have handled that way better!” It doesn’t take me long to realize how silly that is. The arrogance is laughable. Maybe, you’re like me.
Recently, I was studying the events surrounding Jesus’ death and resurrection, comparing the four gospel accounts. As I studied, there was one scene that stood out in my mind. In Luke 24:10-11, the writer tells us of the women’s testimony to the apostles:
Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James,
and the other women with them were telling the apostles these things.
But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women.
These women shared how Jesus had risen from the grave, but the apostles didn’t believe them. These were the same men who had witnessed Jesus perform miracles. They heard Jesus prophesy His own death and resurrection, but after His death, when all seemed lost, they didn’t believe that He had risen. I’m sure during that fateful Saturday, between Jesus’ death and resurrection, they felt hopeless, abandoned by Jesus. As I read the Gospel accounts, I want to scream at the apostles, “How do you not believe this? Why are you doubting Jesus?” It is then that I come to the realization that I, too, am one who doubts at times. Whenever I feel a situation is hopeless, whenever I try to take on a difficult task, whenever I walk through a hardship and believe there is no getting out of it, it’s like I’m one of the apostles, believing Jesus was dead and gone. Praise be to God for His faithfulness, which does not depend on my actions. My prayer for Eastmont is that we would be a people who trust in the words
and actions of the Lord even on the darkest days. Let us be a people who trusts in the Lord regardless of the task set before us. Let us demonstrate unwavering faith. Let us be a people who, when told “He has risen,” can say with joy and confidence “He has risen, indeed!”