What’s next? After Christ’s Resurrection — back then, right after it happened, and now, after its celebration — what’s the next step into the next new day, and week?
That’s my question here at new week’s beginning.
Reviewing Sunday’s message, I get this answer:
First (and foremost) for them (back then), and us (right now): Grasp Resurrection’s reality. Really grasp it. Sink it deep enough to affect our lives.
The sunrise sermon cited three reactions to the empty tomb (in John 20:1- 9), then brought them down to now, to us, to the question: Like which do we respond?
1) Like Mary Magdalene? She didn’t even consider the possibility of resurrection. Her eyes saw and her humanity interpreted, the normal, flesh-like way:
His body’s gone! So someone took it!
Wrong!
But off she ran, to tell the others, and what she reported as fact, wasn’t! (John 20:2)
How like that I am, too often! I see with fleshly eyes or hear with bodily ears, and jump to earthy conclusions — minus miracles.
Someone just wished me a “Miracle Monday.” Such great greeting for this post-“Easter” day! How good that I checked my email! Because till then miracles in my day didn’t even enter my head. Now I’m looking for the possibility, at least!
2) Next was Peter. To Mary’s words he responded running, right in character. And when he reached that dim-lit tomb, he strode right past his swifter but pausing fellow Disciple.
This text doesn’t tell his thoughts. Luke 24:12 says “he marveled.” Which implies he at least considered possibilities beyond mere body snatching.
But what mass of conflicting thoughts must have warred within him! On one hand, he would want to believe — strongly. But on the other loomed all the guilt and shame and wrenching grief of his betrayal.
Marveling, yet conflicted. Yes, I’ve been there, too.
3) Then there was gospel author John, speaking of Himself as one “Jesus loved.”
Rather than charge in, he “looked in” — more circumspect than Peter — “and,” he says, “he believed.”
Odd: it doesn’t elaborate, tell just what he believed. Maybe it wasn’t a “what,” a fact or possibility or set of such. Maybe believe here means what it does all through his first epistle, where that word echoes and re-echoes throughout, beginning to end.
There it means not just mental assent to some set of facts — but all-out, sold-out belief, even at the cost of everything else. Something you stake your eternity on.
Am I like that, or like Peter or Mary? I think I might consider the possibilities more than Mary, and look before leaping more than Peter, but the simplicity of faith that John displayed often comes hard to me.
I fear I’m too much like another disciple not mentioned here: “Doubting Thomas” — the give-me-concrete-proof kid!
Oh the grace with which God loves me and deals with my doubting! From my pre-Christian skepticism to present trial-and-disappointment times that I allow to make hopes look bleak!
I grieve at my littleness of faith.
But Christ said faith even mustard-seed small… (Mt 17:20)
So, for me the wait isn’t over, beyond Resurrection Day. I must continue the waiting on Him: for wisdom, for the next step, and for the faith with which to take it. I must take time again and again to sit with him, even pray my oft-repeated “I believe; help Thou my unbelief!”
Taking that step today, even as I “go fishing,” go about my normal business. Waiting on Him…
But looking for miracles, nonetheless!
*****
Focusing on Him, by listing more REASONS, IN HIM, for me to praise and worship Him:
(My personal journal’s Reasons count has actually passed 500, but I’m picking up my numbering here from last !0,000 REASONS counting post.)
107- He will reconcile all things to Himself by Christ — whether things in heaven or on Earth (Col 1:20)
108 – He made peace trough the blood of His cross (Col 1:21)
109 – He has now reconciled us who were alienated from Him and His enemies in our minds by wicked works (Col 1:21-22)
110 – He has reconciled us in the body of His flesh to present us holy, blameless, and above reproach in His sight (Col 1:21-22)
111 – He has made known (revealed) to His saints the mystery that was hidden for ages (Col 1:26)
112 – He has willed to make known the riches of this mystery to and among the Gentiles (of whom I am one!) (Col 1:27)
113 – That mystery is “Christ in us — the hope of glory”! (Col 1:27)
114 – He worked mightily in His Apostles to that end, of revealing the mystery (Col 1:29)
115 – This whole process makes it possible for everyone warned to be presented perfect in Christ Jesus (Col 1:28)
116 – In Him we are complete (Col 2:10)
117 – He is the head of all principality (rule) (Col 2:10)
118 – He is the head of all power (authority) (Col 2:10)
119 – In Him is the “circumcision” of the heart (Col 2:11)
120 – It is in Him that we are rooted in the faith (Col 2:7)
121 – It is in Him that we are built up in the faith (Col 2:7)
122 – It is in Him that we (believers) have been “buried” in baptism (Col 2:12)
123 – It is with Him we are raised to newness of life (Col 2:12)
124 – He made us alive together with Him, though we were dead in trespasses and sin (Col 2:13)
125 – He wiped out the writing of law requirements that were against us (Col 2:14)
126 – He nailed it to the cross! (Col 2:14)
*****
Linking up late (but better than never) to
Hear it on Sunday, Use it on Monday
Word-Filled Wednesday at the Internet Cafe
Oh, I live this. Waiting for Him with each breath. Yes. Isn’t that what it means to be an Easter people?
What is my next step? Continue believing and praying that every step that i will take will be according to God’s words and to bring glory to His name. Yes, I might doubt, be dissapointed, stumbled. But thanks God, His mercy is new every morning:) Nice post
Oh yes, Ligaya! Thank you for this rich comment.
Wonderful, Laura! “Easter people” = that’s good. So glad you visited and commented! God bless, as you wait!
Yes! To walk in the ressurection life He gave to us… to breathe in Easter each and every day!
You put it so beautifully, FireFly. (I like that: “His FireFly.” 🙂 ) Thank you for visiting and commenting.
Yes, faith of a mustard seed. Thanks for the reminder!
Fantastic post.
oh, this is beautiful Sylvia. I saw myself – as YOU saw yourself, in all the witnesses. And I wonder the same as you – there was that supper, then the trial, then the crucifixion, then the fear and doubt and sadness and guilt that all 12 of the apostles left behind felt – all 12, including Judas, though he not for long. And 10 of them gathered together, huddled in panic. And one of them, my favorite, did what you should never do when you’re afraid, and in doubt, and sad beyond words, he went off and isolated. And then… Then is Easter… HE’S BACK FOR A LITTLE WHILE – But then comes the time until Pentecost where they finally get it a little bit. And they think, like you said, what’s next? Not enough faith, and “next” will come ready or not – sorry for the long comment – but I just wanted you to know that I got it – and I was inspired by what you wrote – thank you Sylvia. And God bless and keep you and each and every one of yours my friend.
Craig, I answered your comment yesterday, but my reply seems to have disappeared in cyberspace! I don’t even remember what I said now, except don’t apologize because I love long comments! What I didn’t say was what occurred to me afterward, thinking about your “favorite,” and how he did what you never should at such a time, went off and isolated — yes, maybe I’m like Thomas in other ways I hadn’t thought of… Now today Joe comments on Thomas, too, and so that Apostle’s become a very interesting character study. Neat, how all these thoughtful insights came out. Thanks for your good input. God bless!
I like Thomas! I think we sell Thomas short by sticking the title “Doubting” in front of his name.
Thomas was a very up-front direct sort of person. He was the one who voiced what everyone else was already thinking. Yet he also showed great courage and loyalty (“Let us go with him that we may die also”).
But it was Thomas’ voiced doubts that led to a biblical record of Jesus’ scars. I’m still amazed by this. His dead body came to life…the severed heart started pumping…the coagulated blood started flowing…the dead brain started functioning. And yet HE KEPT THE SCARS!
Why? Because those scars are the mark of His covenant…and for all eternity, every time He looks at His hands, Jesus is reminded of His covenant partners…you and me.
And Thomas was the first to declare, “My Lord and my God!”
Perhaps this is what is next…that realization…that declaration…
My Lord and My God!!!
Very interesting and insightful comments, Joe. Trigger a whole blog post worth of thoughts for me…! I realize I never gave Thomas the consideration he deserves. Forthright and real, unwilling to settle for anything less than rock-solid truth, he’s the kind that asks the hard questions we need to wake our lethargic brains and prompt us to dig deeper and explore longer — and come up with greater lasting treasure than we ever would have otherwise. And yes, I think that IS what’s next, that realization and declaration, “My Lord and My God!” Thanks much for sharing this!
Oh, how I wish I could be more like John! Why does simple belief never seem to come simply, and don’t we all need that help with our unbelief – every moment of every day? Thank you for your honesty and sharing the place you are – the place I think a great many of us are. It really means a lot to me. Especially this week.
God bless!
Hi Mary,
Yes, longing for that simplicity of faith! However, since publishing this post, my thoughts have led me to realize the great value in seeing my great inadequacies — for they keep me more continually depending on HIM instead of myself, and isn’t that what He wants us most to do? Prayers for your Friday and weekend.
Oh, yes, you’re right, Sylvia, and I know this, that we need our inadequacies – I’d just prefer that everything be easy, but it’s not, and He’s planned it this way because it’s better, it just doesn’t feel like it. Prayers for you, too – both of us learning these things.
Thank you!
God bless!