WATCHWORD:
When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! Matthew 28:17
Meditation:
In Their Shoes
So often we read scripture and while we sometimes imagine what life was like in those days, can we imagine their thoughts, how they felt, the decisions they struggled with? That is hard. At the time of His crucifixion and resurrection there were certain principals cited in Scripture: Mary, mother of Jesus; Mary Magdalene; Peter, John, Barnabas, Matthew and Andrew. In this imagined conversation at this critical time in all of their lives, Andrew speaks to us:
He’s dead! We 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’s 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 maybe Philip, are planning to go back to Capernaum. I should go with them. Staying here is not safe.
John was there on Calvary, with with the two Marys. John 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 His mother how very sorry we were, but Mary just smiled, and comforted us, saying we should remember and find peace. What should we remember? How can we find peace? He’s gone, dead! Yet, there she was, smiling! How could she do that? How could she remain so calm? She saw her son killed, and yet… What does she know that we don’t?
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! One of the women said an angel said we should tell you that he would meet us in Capernaum. When we told his mother, she just continued to smile, then nodded in agreement.
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. Barnabas reminded us that this was the third day.
There was grumbling, there was debate. Do we believe the angel? Do we not believe our Lord, after all we have seen these many months? I said I wanted 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. So, six of us (Peter, John, Matthew, Barnabas, Andrew, and our friend, Mary) set off on the journey to Capernaum.
Three days later, we saw Jesus! We watched Him there on the beach with Peter, 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, a miracle of God on which we build our faith. Hallelujah!
How about you and I? Do we struggle with the markers of our faith? Markers like the Virgin Birth, the healing of lepers, the raising of Lazarus, and, finally, the Resurrection? Do we stand by those events, moments, and more? I don’t know about you, but belief in the Resurrection, by its self, is all I need. All the rest, yes, I stand by all those, for me there is no doubt. Jesus is the Son of God, He is part and partial of the Triune God, He is my Lord and Savior. Period! Amen.
(Today’s Meditation is a revision of an essay posted on August 1, 2022.)
Prayer:
Lord, I need You. Please help me sift through the things in my heart, my mind, and even the things on my calendar. Thank you for being the source of all the strength I ever need. Lead me with Your Spirit today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
