The Missing Piece, Part 2

Today I was thinking about the day after Jesus’ resurrection. Some people think He went directly back to heaven. But the Bible is clear - He stayed here on Planet Earth for 40 days, and more than 500 people saw Him. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3; cf. 1 Corinthians 15:5-8).

But what was that first Monday like? I know as a pastor I’m usually exhausted after Easter Sunday, and all I did was preach. Christ’s weekend started with a stressful, sleepless night, and went downhill from there. In the space of three days He was betrayed by one of His closest friends, deserted by the rest of them, and tortured by His enemies. He bore all the sins of all God’s people throughout time, and experienced the wrath and judicial abandonment of His Father. And then He died.

So the day after, after He rose again in triumph, I wonder if He didn’t simply rest. But Scripture does not give us those details.

What it does give us, though, is the sweeping confidence that Christ’s resurrection is the seal of approval, the great proof that God’s plan of redemption worked.

Last time I compared the resurrection to “the missing piece” of a puzzle, and began a short journey through the book of Romans. Here’s part two.

The Missing Piece, Part 1

Have you ever picked up a book and read all the way to the end, only to find that the last page is missing?

Or maybe you’re been working on a jigsaw puzzle, and you have all the border pieces in, and you've separated the other pieces by color. The sky is put together, and the trees, and the windows in the house. Hours later, you’re almost done. But when you get to the end, there’s a piece missing! I hate that!

Sometimes life is like that. You work hard to achieve something, but when you get to the end, it doesn't seem worth it. Whether it’s getting an education, or getting married, buying a house, getting your dream car (or truck), starting a family, taking a trip to Europe, it’s not quite what you thought or hoped or expected. Something is missing.

That’s how Jesus’ followers must have felt on Good Friday. They had seen Him perform miracles, walk on the sea, multiply the loaves and fishes, calm the storm, heal the sick, even raise the dead.

They had laughed with Him, learned from Him, been amazed by Him, and followed Him for three years. Their lives would never be the same.

But then it all seemed to come crashing down. His enemies finally caught up to Him and He was taken into custody. The forces of darkness seemed to completely overwhelm the truth and beauty that was Jesus Christ. He was subjected to a series of clandestine, illegal trials. Lies were told about Him, and He wouldn't even defend Himself. He was condemned to death.