It is not often that a major historical event effects your life as much as Easter does. As a Christian this is an event that changed my life to life. At the age of 28 I accepted Christ as my savoir and gave my life to Him.
At the time I did not understand all that would come to mean. Most of us know the story. Jesus was born to the virgin Mary. God's son. In a town called Bethlehem. In a manger among the commoners.
Jesus grew up and began his ministry with the most unexpected people. Fisherman, but more than fishermen, they were common men with the same tendency to sin as us. Drink to much, stay out to late, do the minimum they could. And like us they could not follow every rule correctly to try to gain the favor of God.
Jesus walked "the world" with the disciples teaching all that would listen. For three years he gave us examples and miracles to learn from for the ages to come. Every story and parable breathes truth into our lives. This new way to look at life was so popular to the general public. This became a problem for the religion of the day.
The powers to be at the time began to plot the end of this new religion. It is amazing how on one Saturday you can feel the high of life and enjoy each moment and the very next Saturday life is so overwhelming that you can not breath.
Jesus last week here on earth mirror this. On what we call Palm Sunday Jesus entered his home town with a hero's welcome. The week turned to prayer, long talks at dinner and more prayer. Soon betrayal entered the picture and the events became more gruesome than we can imagine. Jesus was beaten beyond recognition and hung on a cross on Friday. Dyeing that day. Burred in a borrowed grave.
I often wonder what God thought of all these event. He knew they needed to happen. He knew only Jesus could suffer the consequences for sin for all. Only His blood could wash each and everyone of us clean. On a cross, on a hill, among robbers and a thiefs Jesus died for us.
It is hard to tell my story of a week that went incredibly wrong. The week started with anticipation of the events to come. Easter weekend with the celebration of trading baskets filled with items to please. A large family gathering around the dinner table to feast on way to much food.
Friday morning all three kids were off school and I had to go to work. The day started out just fine. By mid morning life stood still. The phone call at work was different and I knew something was terribly wrong.
"Bear has been in a motorcycle accident. He is at Huntsville Hospital." I went numb not sure what to do. I headed into Huntsville an hour drive away. Bear was my middle child. A strong willed 17 year old with a great future ahead of him.
It was a
long day at the hospital as we waited to hear what was happening. Before the afternoon was over Bear was gone. I didn't know what to do but wail. One of the hardest moments in my life. The next days would prove to be overwhelming.
This year as I think of the meaning of Easter I think more about Saturday. Those that have lost a loved one knows the pain of Friday. The shock, the confusion, the absence of that person in your life.
We as Christians understand Friday and what the blood of Christ did for us. We also understand Sunday and what it means to have a risen Christ. But do we understand what Saturday is.
Put yourself back in the moment in time when Jesus died for us. The disciples and the many followers seen with Jesus were in hiding fearing for their lives. The many followers tried to go back to there daily life, confused. They ran the memory of many events of the past few years through their heads. Trying to understand how someone that claimed to be the Son of God could die.
I draw from my personal pain of loosing a son on Good Friday in the year 2000. Friday was a day of numbness. But Saturday. Saturday was full of so many emotions and decisions. A day of unknown. What to do? How to do? Unable to do the simple things like eat or breath.
The women of the day tried to get back to living life. The men went to do their work. All motions of habit. The world they had came to know and understand changed for ever. They must have felt betrayed like how I felt that these event happen to people on TV not to me.
All I was left with was my faith in Christ. This tested me just like they were tested back then on that Saturday. I could not do anything even though I knew I needed to. I knew there were two children counting on me to show them the way and all I could do was remind myself to breath in and breath out.
All I was left with was my faith in Christ. All they were left with was their faith in Christ. Nothing else made any sense. Nothing else seamed to mattered. God reached down and grabbed my hand and walked me through the day.
Even though we face a lot of Saturdays in our lives we have one thing that will get us through. Jesus. Sunday came and Jesus Christ was not in that grave. He is risen and He is our life.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
