Liquid Fast - Week 3, Day 6 (Last Day)

The silence was pervasive. Like the ringing in your ears at the end of the concert, the silence is deafening. Like when the video streaming cuts out right at the climax of your favorite show, the anticipation vacuum was enormous.

Today I want us to put ourselves in the place of those followers, closest to Jesus, on that Saturday so many years ago. As you read the following passage, try to transport yourself to a place where you don't know the end of the story. Let your imagination open up a bit and attempt to feel what they must have been feeling.

Read these words like you were in the midst of the story . . .

Read & Feed:
"Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate's
permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there."
- John 19:38-42

Journal:
Do you think Jesus' followers felt discouraged because, not only did their Great Teacher die, but their dreams of a better life died with Him? Or maybe they felt rejected and helpless because what they thought was true turned out to be a lie? Possibly they felt hopeless and weak because they couldn't stop the Romans and religious leaders from killing the truest person they'd ever met.

Life without Jesus was lonely.

Life today without Jesus isn't much different.

As Christ Followers we know the end of the story. We know that tomorrow morning a few women in Jesus' inner circle would go back to the tomb and find that He was alive. We know that His promise of victory was dependable and true. We feel at peace because we know that Jesus is stronger than the grave. Our posture towards God is trusting and loving because we know what happens next in the story.

But what about the people in our lives today who don't know the rest of the story? For many of our family and friends this weekend is confusing because they are not totally sure why we celebrate the "defeat of our God on the cross." Some might even think we're foolish to celebrate what we do.

What could we do to help complete the end of the story for them? How could we help them see that the story does not need to end in confusion?

Tomorrow at Liquid, Pastor Tim is presenting the whole story for your friends. The Easter message of Hope will be explained vividly for our friends and family. You know what happens next in the story . . . what if you had someone with you tomorrow who doesn't fully understand the entire story. Imagine the transformation that will happen in them when they go from confusion to clarity!