Resurrection Day Hope

In those final days before the cross, many left Him. The crowds followed the fickle way of crowds – they cheered for him on Palm Sunday, when He was popular and cool, but slunk quickly away when the tides of popularity turned. His closest disciples left Him in the garden – first to pray and agonize alone, and then to face the soldiers, the brutal trial, the mocking crowds, the road to Calvary – Jesus walked these steps alone.

For sure, his friends did not know what else to do. And some tried to intervene. They put their hands to their swords in the melee of the garden betrayal. Peter bravely followed the arresting party, even infiltrating the crowd of accusers in the high priest’s courtyard. But in the end, even he left Jesus, the crowing of the rooster ringing in his ears as he denied any connection with the One to whom He had promised to never abandon.

Jesus faced these final hours alone – from the high priest’s house all the way to the cross.

To those of us looking back on this scene, we see the glory of the cross. Oh yes, we try to understand the reality of the scene. We are aware of the scourging, the blasphemous, mocking taunts of the crowd, the brutality and agony of the crucifixion – but for us who know what was accomplished there, the cross stands as a beacon of hope.

But to the disciples – his friends and loved ones – these must have been the darkest of days. Not only to know the horrors of what Jesus was experiencing, but to know that He was walking these steps alone. I can only imagine the depth of the darkness in the hours that followed the cross.

And that, my friend, is the reason that the Resurrection Day is so powerful. To all those who had left Him, the resurrection offered a chance to come back. First, the women to the tomb, then Peter and John and ultimately, the rest of the disciples - no matter how or why, or what the circumstances were that caused them to leave Him, the news of the resurrection offered them the opportunity to come back. To find Him again. To fellowship with Him again. To walk with Him again.

My friend, I don’t have any idea what caused you to walk away from Christ. I don’t know the circumstances of your life. I don’t have any idea what you have been through or what you have experienced.

Perhaps, all you have ever been is part of the crowd – you have followed along when it was cool to do so, but easily wandered away when it was not so convenient.

It might be that the difficult path of following Christ has overwhelmed you. It was easier to back away. Jesus said that the “gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Mt. 7:14). Maybe that road seemed too hard.

Or maybe you have tried to follow Him, but failed. Just like Peter, you were committed and loyal – but the reality of your spiritual failures has left you broken and discouraged. You may know what it feels like to be faced with your denial of your Christ, and to stand outside the camp and weep.

It is in the midst of these kinds of dark days, that God’s Word offers light. And that light is coming from the resurrection tomb, and at the entrance stands Jesus. John 20 says that when Mary came back to the tomb, through her heartbroken sobs and tear filled eyes, she saw a man standing there. Jesus himself said to her “Why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”

No matter who you are or where you have been - on this resurrection day, Jesus is calling you back to Himself. He longs to exchange these dark days of your recent past, with the glorious light of the resurrection day. Would you meet Him - again - at the empty tomb?

“Come As You Are”

Come out of sadness,

From wherever you’ve been

Come brokenhearted,

Let rescue begin

Come find your mercy,

Oh sinner, come kneel

Earth has no sorrow

That heaven can’t heal

Earth has no sorrow

That heaven can’t heal.

So lay down your burdens,

Lay down your shame

All who are broken,

Lift up your face

Oh wanderer come home,

You’re not too far

So lay down your hurt,

Lay down your heart,

Come as you are.

There’s hope for the hopeless,

And all that who’ve strayed

Come sit at the table,

Come taste the grace

There’s rest for the weary,

Rest that endures

Earth has no sorrow

That heaven can’t cure.

So lay down your burdens,

Lay down your shame

All who are broken,

Lift up your face

Oh wanderer come home,

You’re not too far

So lay down your hurt,

Lay down your heart,

Come as you are.