Lenten Readings: John 20

Lenten Readings: The two-year Bible reading plan puts the Gospel accounts of Luke and John right between Ash Wednesday and Easter. Whether you're doing the reading plan or not, you can follow along on the blog and read daily meditations based on the accounts of Jesus, whose life and death we remember and cherish during this season of Lent. Check back every day starting on February 14 and until Easter Saturday.

Friday, March 30, 2018
READ John 20
MEDITATE on John 20:9, "for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead." This description of the disciples post-cross but pre-resurrection describes many people. Without the resurrection is there true hope in the world?

REFLECT
Today is Good Friday. We remember that Jesus died, and we just read about His crucifixion. The arrest, the trial, the mocking, the torture, and the crucifixion - none of this was done without God allowing it and ordaining it. We see that God was in control, and John, as he wrote the Gospel, understood it.

But when the disciples were experiencing the first time, they did not have the privilege of hindsight. And their confusion and turmoil was deflating: there was no hope left. Mary's tears and Thomas' doubting confirm just how hopeless the disciples felt. There was not coming back from this.

The resurrection changes all of that, but we have two options here. One, we may think the resurrection softens the blow of the cross. "It's okay that Jesus suffered because He came back." But I do not think that is appropriate. Healing and restoration do not negate the suffering that occurred. It's history. It happened. And it was real.

So, the second option: the resurrection does not negate Christ's suffering. It does not even validate it. But it does demonstrate God's goodness and power, both in Christ enduring the very real and very necessary suffering for our sins and in Christ overcoming the gravity of that suffering through the love and grace of God.

It's only when we acknowledge the fullness of the suffering that the resurrection has power. So today, remember Christ suffered. The disciples' responses reflect this weight of this. And remember that God is good.

PRAY

Pray in thankfulness for Christ's suffering. Pray for all those suffering today (including yourself) to find comfort in knowing Christ really did take on our suffering. And then pray for hope for all those who are suffering...because Sunday does come.