That Sabbath

On earth that Sabbath was filled with grief, confusion, and loss for Jesus' followers. Those who loved Jesus mourned His death. And mourned the timing. Because He died so late on Friday, they had to wait until the Sabbath was over to give Him a proper burial.

For others on earth that Sabbath was filled with fear. What if His disciples stole the body? After all Jesus did say He would rise from the dead on the third day. (Funny how the Pharisees remembered what the disciples did not!) WHAT IF HE REALLY WAS THE SON OF GOD?? Did they think the guard would keep Him in the tomb? Or would they kill Him again? It's ironic that those who objected to Jesus healing on the Sabbath plotted with Pilate on the Sabbath. Did they not consider posting that guard work? Or did their desire to remain in power supersede their legalistic rules?

In hell that Sabbath must have been filled with rejoicing (or whatever its evil counterpart is). Satan thought he had won. Jesus was dead.

In Heaven, that Sabbath must have been filled with anticipation. Sunday was coming! Jesus would rise! Satan would be defeated! Death would die! Hope would shine forth! Yes, Sunday was coming!

Resurrection Power

This is my entry for the Carnival of Beauty. Since I'm new to the world of blogging, I don't know how to insert the cool Carnival of Beauty button. Hey, I figured it out! Go see Lindsey at justenjoythejourney.blogspot.com for more wonderful entries.

Life with four children means that all the meaningful reflection on the death and resurrection of Jesus that I would like to do gets compressed by gifts and new dresses and eggs --hunting them, playing with them, dying them. As well as by the ordinary lessons, meetings, homeschooling, playing, and arguing of everyday life.

But the Resurrection is the most important thing in the life of believers. Sometimes I only think of the resurrection in terms of the future -- when I die I will go to live in Heaven. But the Resurrection is for now. For every day. For every hour. For every breath. Paul writes in Phil. 3:10, "I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection." He prays for the Ephesian believers to know "His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead" (Eph. 19-20).

In Col. 1:29 Paul says, "To this end I labor, struggling with all His energy (or power), which so powerfully works in me." God wants to empower us with His resurrection power! Not just for the "big" things. Not just for the "church" things. For everything! God wants to give me His Resurrection power to be patient with my children. God wants to fill me with His Resurrection power to organize my home. God wants to empower me with His Resurrection power for whatever I do.

Isn't it great to know we have the same power that raised Christ Jesus from the dead at work in us! No matter how hard the task, no matter how seemingly insurmountable the obstacle, if God has called us to do something, He gives us His Resurrection power to accomplish it. God used that power to lift me out of the pit I had tried to climb out of by myself for years. For that I am especially grateful this Easter season.