Easter... the day after

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
~ John 11:25-26
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I have often thought what the days after Easter were like for the disciples.  Knowing that they had abandoned one another, and for that matter, even Jesus, in the final hours of his life.  We don't know much about where they were in the crowd, except for the woman.  Many of whom were right up front and center, watching every last moment of Jesus' life.  Even Peter, who swore he would die for Jesus at one point, is now left, knowing that the words that Jesus shared about him had come to pass.

I am reminded in the church that the Sunday after Easter remains one of the lowest attended Sundays among most faith traditions.  The "C and E'ers"  (Those who only attend Christmas and Easter services), as they are affectionately known, have made their appearance, and once again will return to whatever it is that they normally do on Sunday. 

For me, I am thinking about what I said during the service, where I wish I had gone with my message, and simply feeling like I need another opportunity.

I am among the disciples the day after Easter.  I am one of those that had to be called back, and told more than once that Jesus was no longer in the tomb, and that my actions on Easter Sunday was the mountain top, and today, whether I want to or not, begins the walk down the other side.

I wonder what those initial conversations were really like with Jesus.  The unbelievable moments, when the resurrection greets the unbeliever, and faith suddenly changes.  It wasn't enough to talk to Lazarus who simply had died, and then rose again.  They were now talking to a man who had publicly been put to death in the most violent way, and he was now back, sharing again the love that he has for all humanity.

It is our struggle.  It is in our weakness that we enter the day after Easter, once again asking ourselves, "Do I believe?"

As we begin another week we look to yesterday, and think of the empty tomb, while wondering how it is that we can become the living Christ in the world today.

Stay in God's grip!

G. Todd Williams (c) 2019