Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. " Luke 9:23
When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him. Luke 23:33
When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching. Luke 33:48-49
Then Joseph took Jesus’ body down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. Luke 33:53-56
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!" Luke 24:1-6
Jesus, Risen Savior, Glorious Lord~
The invitation to follow You is not one for fun in the Son. Not every day will be a bright, cheerful ticker tape parade. In fact, if we accept the invitation, we should anticipate a dark, difficult march through the valley of death. Our acquaintances may abandon us in our affliction, but those who truly love us will linger and watch until the tragedy is terminated. Lord, You know that Good Fridays are excruciatingly painful! Please give us strength to tolerate them.
After Friday comes endless Saturday mourning. Something’s gone or someone’s missing. The very thing or person that once filled the hollow of our heart has vanished. We’re left alone and empty, wondering when the wait will end. Sadness and sorrow seize our soul. Please dear Lord, give us faith to face Saturday, and grace to remain at the grave through our grief.
If we stick around through our dreadfully dark Fridays and seemingly eternal Saturdays, we’ll see brilliant sensational Sundays! We will rejoice when You turn our trial into triumph! It will be a blessing when You wipe the warm tears from our blurry eyes. As our vision clears we will see something bright drawing near, something different than we’ve ever seen before. We will see You our Risen Savior and Glorious Lord! Hallelujah! Amen.
Between yesterday’s tragedy and tomorrow’s triumph will you leave God or linger at the grave until He’s glorified?
Your Good Friday could be disease or death, affliction or addiction, divorce or separation, heartache or hardship, disaster or destruction. Whatever your misfortune, look forward with hope to Easter Sunday when your mourning will turn to joy.
