The Day After

Yesterday was Easter. The church was full, the songs were joyous. Christians renewed their hope in the living Lord.  Today is ‘the day after.’  Life returns to ‘normal,’ whatever that is.  Everybody has gone home, the music has stopped, the decorations are all taken down.  Now what? 

Luke tells of two disciples walking the road to Emmaus on the day after. They were wondering what to do.  The crucifixion had drained them of all hope.  Jesus hung on the cross in disgrace, the dreams of the Kingdom dying with him. They spoke in hushed tones about the tragedy.  Somebody said that the women had seen him in the garden, that he was alive. Nonsensical, right?  Yet, this was Jesus! He had raised Lazarus from his grave. He had fed thousands with a little boy’s lunch.  Hadn’t he talked about tearing down the temple and raising it up in three days?   While they walked and talked, a third man joined their conversation. He fell in alongside of them and asked questions about their discussion.  “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.” (Luke 24:18)  Later, over dinner, the man offered prayer and broke the loaf of bread and they realized it was HIM! “Jesus quoted passages from the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining what all the Scriptures said about himself.”  (24:27) He encouraged them, then as suddenly as He came, He was gone! But, they were changed and they headed back to Jerusalem with yet another amazing story about the Risen Lord.

On this day after, I encourage you to take time to reflect on the Story, on the meaning of it all, on where you go from here.  The second look will provide greater clarity. Thinking it over without the noise will allow you to ask the question, ‘what does this mean for my life now?’  Jesus told the first disciples to stay in Jerusalem, to wait!  It was while they were waiting that the Holy Spirit came on them.  “You will receive power when the Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses,” Jesus told them.  What power it was. 

"Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:43-47, NIV)

Invite the Spirit to fill you up this day after!  Let’s live what we celebrated.