The Great Three Days

And [Jesus], being found in human form, humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.  Therefore God also highly exalted him. Philippians 2:7b-9a

The Great Three Days has us journeying with Jesus and his family, friends and disciples from the evening of the Last Supper and his arrest (Maundy Thursday), to his death on the cross (Good Friday), and into a day of mourning and grief (Holy Saturday).  It is only after we pass through these days that our mourning turns into joy at the resurrection (Easter Sunday).

Isn’t it interesting that the Great Three Days mimic the reality of our day to day lives? There are so many challenges in our lives, community, and world that lead us through crisis and worry; death and grief.  In the news today, we hear about death and destruction throughout the world, we hear about our fragile economy and we hear about evil acts taking root in our society.  These are the realities we understand; the realities of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.  We often find it a little more difficult to relate to the joy of the hoped for Easter.

However, as Christians we are called to look beyond the Maundy Thursdays and Good Fridays of our life.  We are called to look into the future with hope; the hope of the resurrection.  Not only are we to look that direction, but we are to live that way as well.  We are to be examples of God’s great vision of a world full of hope, peace and love.  We certainly do not ignore or deny death and grief; we live within it and walk with those who are hurting, just as Jesus entered the hurt and pain of our lives.  As Christians, though, we do not despair that death and pain is the final word.  We live and move and have our being in the life giving truth of God.  We must always remember that the despair of Good Friday is not the end, just one step toward the resurrection; the hope that is Easter.

Peace

Pastor Nadine