• The Bible Studies for Life lesson for March 31 focuses on John 20:1-18.
In Who Is This Man: The Unpredictable Impact of the Inescapable Jesus, John Ortberg brilliantly describes Jesus’ death and resurrection. He calls it a “third-day story.”
The Bible is full of third-day stories. These stories follow a pattern: They open with tragedy. Time passes. And then on the third day, hope is restored. Perhaps you remember some of these third-day stories? Abraham is prepared to offer his son Isaac as a faithful sacrifice, but on the third day, he sees the sacrifice that will save his son’s life. Joseph’s brothers get put in prison and are released on the third day. On the third day, the king receives Esther favorably after she has been fasting and praying for her people.
He will restore
This theme is found throughout the Old Testament and clearly is expressed in the book of Hosea: “Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces. … After two days, he will revive us; on the third day, he will restore us that we may live in his presence” (Hosea 6:1-2).
Ortberg says the only problem with these third-day stories is you don’t know it is a third-day story until the third day.
For Jesus’ disciples and loved ones, Saturday was a difficult day. They had lived through Friday only by the grace of God. He sustained them with adrenaline and some measure of shock, but when they woke Saturday morning, they came face to face with reality. Jesus was dead. No doubt they were devastated and confused. This was not the way this whole story should have gone down. Jesus was the Messiah—he should be alive.
I wonder how many times they replayed the events of Friday in their minds? Why didn’t Jesus stop the soldiers? Why didn’t Jesus save himself? What could they have done to change the circumstances that ended in their rabbi’s brutal death? Saturday was a very dark day. Ortberg points out Saturday was the only day in the last 2,000 years where no one believed Jesus was alive.
A world growing darker
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Perhaps you find yourself living through Saturday right now. You are experiencing tragedy, brokenness and sorrow. You pray, and it seems God is distant. Your circumstances are not changing, and your world grows darker and darker.
May you rest in the hope of the third day. Some people claim death is the one experience each man and woman must face alone. But after Christ’s resurrection, that no longer is the case. Jesus conquered even death and is present with us when we face the end of life. We never are alone. Christ will restore and revive you on the third day. Hang on to hope.
A stone rolled away
John tells us the women went to the tomb early Sunday morning and found the stone rolled away. The grave clothes still were rolled up and left in place. However, the linens were empty just like the tomb. Scripture tells us the disciples saw and believed (John 20:8). They did not understand all that would come to pass, but they believed.
Sunday is the third day. Sunday brings hope. Saturday is over, and the disciples do not have to wait in despair any longer. Jesus is alive. The tomb is empty. Jesus conquered death by submitting to it, and death no longer rules the day. It is the third day, and God is faithful. Sunday brings hope. Sunday brings promise. Sunday brings joy, and Sunday brings difficulty.
Die so we may truly live
Jesus’ resurrection is not the end of this story. Jesus’ resurrection brings hope, but not hope that all of life will turn out well. Sunday brings hope, calling each of us to die. Sunday brings hope, calling each of us to suffer. Sunday brings hope, calling each of us to love our enemies. Sunday brings hope, calling each of us to surrender control to our heavenly Father. The resurrection and life we celebrate on Sunday calls us to die so we may truly live.
May each of us experience new life in Christ today.
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