Are you still celebrating the resurrection of our Savior or are you back in your sunken place because your account is overdrawn from all the stuff you purchased for Easter? Are we still in a place of being grateful for Jesus’ sacrifice or did it end after church on Sunday? I’m only asking because we should be thankful every day, not just on the day set aside to commemorate it. Look, the resurrection of Jesus is great, amazing and deserves to be celebrated but so does the suffering. We rush to get to the resurrection, to get Jesus out of the tomb but what about the suffering that happened between Thursday evening and Sunday? Because if I can be honest with you, the resurrection is great to shout folk but the Garden of Gethsemane is even greater to save folk. Sure, it’s all well and good that you know Jesus got up but do you know why He died? Yea, it’s great you preach the last 7 things Jesus said but what about why He had to suffer in the first place? I’m simply thinking that if we start from the beginning and study the true suffering of our Jesus, then we may serve Him better.
Just maybe, if we get the details, our devotion will change and maybe, if we know what He had to go through, we wouldn’t be quick to give up when we have to go through. For here in Matthew 26:38, Jesus tells the three disciples, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” The bible says He went on a little farther. Far enough for Him to feel alone but close enough for the disciples to hear and see Him. For He needed them to watch with Him. He didn’t say watch out for me but He says watch with me. With, a function word meaning to participate in. He says this to the 3; Peter, James and John. The same 3 who were there during the transfiguration. A time they saw Jesus transform from being Mary’s baby, to the fullness of God. So, wouldn’t it be only right that they now be in attendance to watch WITH Him as He transforms yet again? This time from messenger to cup-bearer and sin carrier. This is what we celebrate, every day and not just on an assigned holiday. Are you still rejoicing or is it over now that the candy and eggs are gone?
Lakisha, the Author 