LIFE TOUCH

“The Day After”

The day after the arrest of Jesus came the crucifixion. The day after the crucifixion, Jesus was in hell for you and the disciples were in hiding. The day after that came the resurrection and a story that would never be silenced. But what happened the day after the resurrection? We are not told even one thing in the Scriptures about the day after the resurrection.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ as recorded by John the Beloved is the only one that continues on with more following the Day of Resurrection. The other three Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke end on that day with the Lord giving the disciples the Great Commission to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature baptizing them in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and that Jesus would be with them even unto the end of the age. John also does not give anything for the day after as well. He does give more about God’s love and grace through Christ’s appearances to the disciples throughout the next forty days and then the ascension back into heaven but nothing on the day after. I have often thought about that and wondered what exactly happened the next day and what was going through the disciples’ minds. The next appearance in John was a whole week later to encourage Thomas to have the faith also.
The disciples have been through a great, stressful time on the week that we now call Holy Week. They had experienced their Master’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, seen great miracles take place, watched as Lazarus was resurrected from the tomb after being laid there for four days, knew the opposition from the “church,” was there at Jesus’ arrest, trial and crucifixion, hid for fear of their lives, witnessed the resurrected Christ in their midst all in a very short period of time. They had a great deal of life and death in one week to work through. What did they do the day after?
I would like to say that they went right out to tell everyone that Jesus is risen from the grave just as He said He would, but my humanness also talks to me and I see a group of disciples that are rejoicing over Christ’s resurrection and being alive again, but still very fearful of what the authorities would do to them if they were to suddenly go out into the streets and start proclaiming something that would get them thrown into prison and executed. According to Luke in the book of Acts, it was not until fifty days later on the day of Pentecost that they received the Holy Spirit was then empowered to be the witnesses that Christ needed in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth. We are told that in the forty days following, Jesus continued to teach them and to show love and forgiveness where it was needed. The Disciples were still just men and women who were doing their best to follow the Risen Savior.
What would you and I have done in those days? I cannot really say, but in the today, the here and now, we have the power that was given on the day of Pentecost and we are to go out after the celebration and share the wonderful news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all whom God leads into our pathway. DO NOT stay behind the doors and hide from the world for we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit!!!
Heavenly Father, I am Yours today and I want the world to know about the only faith that has a Risen Savior! Fill me and empower me today. I ask this in the power of the Name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.