[vc_row height=”small” el_class=”dailyBody” css=”.vc_custom_1465516518912{margin-top: -25px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/4″][us_image image=”30928″ size=”tnail-1×1″][ultimate_heading main_heading_color=”#5fc8d7″ sub_heading_color=”#5fc8d7″ alignment=”left” main_heading_font_family=”font_family:Allerta|font_call:Allerta” main_heading_style=”font-style:italic;” main_heading_font_size=”desktop:16px;” sub_heading_style=”font-style:italic;,font-weight:bold;” sub_heading_font_size=”desktop:16px;” main_heading_line_height=”desktop:15px;” sub_heading_line_height=”desktop:22px;” margin_design_tab_text=””]We WAIT – “hanging onto his WORDS” just like all those who have gone before us[/ultimate_heading][us_separator height=”20px” size=”custom”][us_sharing providers=”email,facebook,twitter,gplus”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]
Read Psalm 1
Imagine waking up the day after a major crisis. The sounds of life fall silent and your heart feels heavy – as if gravity is pulling extra hard. Only days prior, your heart was full of hope for the future, having confidence in words of truth, words of life, and words of hope. But today, it’s as if all that comes crashing down. What happens on those days when your heart is heavy and you’re at a loss for words? What happens when one day feels like the longest journey you’ve ever taken or a never-ending route of despair? What happens when your expectations are shattered and your hopes end in disappointment?
The same weighty emotions would have been stirred up within Jesus’ disciples the morning after the gruesome execution. Jesus was gone. Only days prior, Jesus arrived in Jerusalem and their hearts filled with wonder and anticipation. Theirs months overflowed with praise and blessing. Although religious leaders were out to kill Jesus, Jesus remained alive because his followers “hung on his words” (Luke 19:48). Perhaps the religious leaders were afraid of the crowds but more likely they feared the power behind Jesus’ supremely simple yet revolutionary words.
But that day, the disciples realized Jesus was gone. What some didn’t realize was that there was still something to cling onto. They’ve always had his words. We, too, have Jesus’ words. We may not be able to live and follow Jesus in a tangible way like first his disciples. We may not be able to see him face-to-face or sit down with him over coffee, but that was never his intention. Jesus came to do the will of his Father in heaven. He came to die in our place. He came to set us free. Now, in the same way, we cling to his words by faith. And, we wait. We wait – like the disciples on Holy Saturday, for the completed promise of resurrection. We wait – on the good days and the bad days, the ones filled with joy and laughter as well as the ones filled with sorrow and mourning. We wait – “hanging onto his words” just like all those who have gone before us.
Reflection and Response
Imagine what it would have been like to be a disciple the day after the crucifixion. How would you feel? What would you be telling your soul?
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By Yvonne Biel
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