All they knew was death.

All they knew was death. When Jesus Died... On that Friday that we now call “Good,” it didn’t feel very good in that moment. On that day, all the disciples knew was death. All they knew was darkness. Grief. Pain. Unfairness. Betrayal. Heartbreak. Loneliness. That weight on your chest feeling that physically causes you pain. The feeling that makes you wonder if you’ll ever be able to breathe again, or if you’ll die too. All they knew was death. And the next day they woke up with stinging eyes from tears shed endlessly through the night. And to their horror, it wasn’t all a bad dream. Reality slapped them in the face once more. And all they knew was death. Much like us. Ya see, on this earth all we know is limited. There is a beginning and there is an end. And even with good beginnings we know there is an end to come. Because we are human, we’re destined to rush towards the end because that’s all we know. We’re rushing to that gratification that we’re missing; that gratification that won’t be found earth-side. And sometimes we find ourselves in moments like the followers of Jesus experienced: staring into reality with death looking back at us. All we know is death. But even on the third day, I'm sure if you put yourself in the shoes of the disciples for a second you can imagine that their world had been so devastatingly rocked that they could not even fathom the possibility of life or joy or a future beyond the moment they were in. They saw no way out of the despair and heartbreak. And while they were waking up to the horror of reality again, another set of feet were hitting the floor too. I think about the women who went to the tomb that morning, getting out of bed to face another day, gathering their spices, meeting on the path to walk to the tomb together. I imagine that walk was quiet and heavy. But they had no idea that what they were about to see would change their lives, their circumstance, and the course of eternity from that point on. And then I think about us. And how we are like those women sometimes. We are ready to go in and bless the death; we are ready with weeping eyes to step into the darkness of the tomb and bless and anoint the dead things in our life because death is all we know, we think it’s the only option we have so we do the best with what we’ve God but I’m here to tell you that JESUS CAME TO BRING LIFE TO OUR DEATH! Jesus had other plans! When we’re focusing on the end, even with our spices in hand laced with good intentions, Jesus is prepared to meet us and change our darkness into light, to change our mourning into dancing, to change our death into life. He’s ready to redeem our impossible circumstances. He took us from our death and he breathed life into us and resurrected us with him. And when we step into the arms of The Father and accept that gift, that gift of radiant redemption... that’s where we find life, and peace, and joy, and hope. And all of that is what it looks like to live redeemed. It’s not rules and legalism. It’s not an unjust God scrutinizing your every move so he can tell you how wrong you are. It’s not about church people, who are so concerned with their physical flesh that they forget to be the body of Christ; the hands and feet of Jesus. Redemption breathes life. Redemption is love, joy, peace, patients, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness… And it is the most precious gift, ready to be given to us freely. All we have to do is receive it. So if you’re like those women today, facing your darkness with spices in hand and despair in your heart, trudging forward, barely able to lift one foot after the other and wondering how you’re going to wake up tomorrow and do this all again...let me tell you that there is someone waiting at your tomb. He’s ready to call your name like he did Mary’s that day (John 20:16), and when he does your spirit will leap within you and recognize that He is what you have been looking for all along. He’s ready to breathe life into you. He’s ready to raise you from the death you see all around you. He’s ready to give you hope in the midst of hopelessness. He’s ready to redeem you.

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by Sami Atkinson