Darkness shrouded the Earth. Hope vanished. Hearts discouraged from broken promises and unfulfilled dreams. Three years of sacrifice and wearisome travel far from home, families and everything familiar. The early days spent fending off crowds who wanted a piece of the Miracle Worker. The latter days ducking crowds who wanted Him dead. They had left everything to follow Jesus. All for nothing. He's gone. A simple Roman cross finally pinned Jesus down. No more sermons. No more teachings. No more signs and wonders. No more controversy.
The supposed Messiah was dead. A cold dark tomb cradled his broken body.
All of us have experienced some dark days similar to what Jesus' disciples went through long ago. Life not going as you planned. Your world turned upside down. Everything and everybody you trusted have fallen away. Your dreams shipwrecked. Your faith failed when troubles knocked on your door. The checks bounced. Your car wouldn't start. Your roof needs replacing and the kids need braces. Your boss just informed you that you're no longer needed. Your spouse walked out. Your teen is out of control. The doctor says, "It doesn't look good."
During those times God seems distant. Perhaps nonexistent. You feel isolated, abandoned and alone. Dark days of the soul. We all go through them. No one is immune to pain or insulated from troubles. It's part of our human condition. It's the cost of life on planet Earth. Like Jesus' disciples, we all have "Good Fridays" - when the hope of the world hung on a cross and died.
Fast forward to Sunday morning. Having been interrupted by the Jewish Sabbath, two women go to the Jesus' tomb to finish anointing his lifeless body for burial. But the tomb is empty. His body gone. An angel appears saying, "Why seek the living among the dead? Jesus is alive!" Moments later, Jesus Himself appears. It's true. He's alive. He has risen from the dead. And the faith, dreams and hopes of his disciples spring to life again. Empowered by the living Christ, they changed the world forever, their influence still being felt today almost 2,000 years later.
You may be experiencing a "Friday" in your life right now. But don't despair. Sunday's coming! The gloomy grave and stone cold tomb couldn't contain the living Lord. He lives. Jesus is alive. Death and darkness destroyed. New life, new dreams, new hopes are resurrected from the dead. In Christ you live again. There's light at the end of the tunnel. You can feel His power lifting you, comforting you, empowering you.
Everyone experiences "Fridays," even as disciples. But by trusting in Jesus Christ, you can always count on Sunday coming. The Bible promises: because He lives, you're going to live - forever. So when you feel the cold darkness of trouble's tomb closing in on you, and it seems like your Friday will never end - look to the resurrected Lord who will raise you up, and remember: "It may be Friday but Sunday's coming!"
