Honestly, I can’t imagine how it would have felt to be a disciple the day after Jesus’ crucifixion. Would I have wondered what I had missed? Surely, I couldn’t have been so far off base. But Jesus was definitely dead and buried.

I imagine I would, too, have locked myself into a room with the other disciples. Who knew what the religious leaders would do to Jesus’ followers now?

Today, we wait in the tension between Good Friday and Easter morning.

Today, we have the benefit of hindsight and know how the story ends.

Today, we may not have even thought of the tomb.

But I do know that many of us have waited in the tension between what was, what is and what will be. If it isn’t the current health crisis, it might be job loss, failing marriage, infertility, adoption, financial hardship, illness, dysfunctional relationships, chronic depression or anxiety, and many other difficulties we encounter in this life.

I believe God is in the business of miracles. He is making everything new in his time and in his way. I continue to hold fast to the belief that God is moving behind the scenes. There has been a shift and it will be evident soon. And it will be the work of God on our behalf.

I am encouraged by John 10 and Jesus’ description of himself as the good shepherd. He doesn’t run away when things get tough. He isn’t in this relationship for what he can get out of it. He is here because he loves us. And he will always lay down his life for ours.

Go ahead and check it out for yourself!

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd. The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again.  No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”

John 10:11-18

Today might look mighty dark to you, but have no fear! Sunday is coming!