He’s dead! I thought He would live forever. He was to be our Savior, our new King who would lead us to freedom. Just this week we saw Him bring Lazarus back to life…why could He not save himself? I don’t know what to do! I don’t know where to go! I don’t know what to believe. He made so many promises, and now He is gone!
I couldn’t be there. I couldn’t watch. He was my friend, my Lord and now He is gone! I stayed with my brother, Peter. He was so upset. He thinks he was the reason that our Jesus was crucified. He and James, and I think Philip, are planning to go back to Capernaum. I should go with them, too. Staying here is not safe.
John was there on Calvary, with Mary, Jesus’ mother, and Mary, who lives near us in Galilee. He told us all that had happened, Jesus’ death and where they buried our Savior. We didn’t want to hear it, but we had to know.
We tried to tell Mary how very sorry we were, but she just smiled, and comforted us, saying we should remember and find peace. Remember what? How can we find peace? Yet, there she was smiling! How could she do that? How could she remain calm? She saw her son killed, and yet…
Then on Sunday, women had gone to the tomb and, came hurrying back, excitedly told us what the angel had said. John and Peter took off running back to the tomb to see for themselves. We all felt a sense of excitement and disbelief. Could it be that He is Alive! They returned and said the tomb was empty! Empty!
We were excited, yes, but could it be true? Some doubted. To go to Capernaum was three days of hard walking. Not an easy journey. Barnabas, also known as Bartholomew, repeated what Jesus had told us several times, that He would be killed and raised to life on the third day. This is the third day, Barnabas reminded us.
There was grumbling, there was debate. Do we believe the angel? Do you not believe our Lord, after all you have seen these many months? I want to believe, but… Finally, Barnabas spoke again, saying what most of us knew, some of us had to go, while the others stay here in this safe house and await word. Five of the disciples (Peter, John, Matthew, Barnabas and Andrew) along with Mary set off on the journey to Capernaum.
Can you imagine what it was like for these disciples, for the two Mary’s, and for all of the followers that heard the news first of the death of Jesus and then stories of his resurrection, often disclaimed by the Pharisees and the teachers and the Romans.
The small group traveled to Capernaum, saw Him there on the beach with Peter and others, then we all followed Him up the hillside where we gathered around, experiencing something that defied even our most hopeful imaginations. How could we have known?
Our love of Him had grown as we witnessed His ministry, had witnessed the miracles, the healings, the teachings. And, then His death and burial, and now, there on that hillside, the truth of the Resurrection, the Resurrection on which we build our faith. Hallelujah! Amen.
For What It’s Worth.
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