Life After Easter

After a busy day of food preparations, hosting a crowd complete with an Easter Egg hunt, I can find the Monday after a bit tough. I’m usually dragging. Action packed weekends can tend to zap us. Who’s up for an Easter Monday holiday?

It occurred to me that those who followed Jesus may find it hard to get back to their routine come Monday morning. The intensity of the week had to have taken its toll on Jesus’ friends. And then to hear that Jesus was alive!  What???? Check out Mary Magdalene and the other Mary as they take a peek into the tomb:

“After the Sabbath, as the first light of the new week dawned, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to keep vigil at the tomb. Suddenly the earth reeled and rocked under their feet as God’s angel came down from heaven, came right up to where they were standing. He rolled back the stone and then sat on it. Shafts of lightning blazed from him. His garments shimmered snow-white. The guards at the tomb were scared to death. They were so frightened, they couldn’t move.

The angel spoke to the women: 'There is nothing to fear here. I know you’re looking for Jesus, the One they nailed to the cross. He is not here. He was raised, just as he said. Come and look at the place where he was placed.'

Now, get on your way quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He is risen from the dead. He is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.’ That’s the message.

The women, deep in wonder and full of joy, lost no time in leaving the tomb. They ran to tell the disciples. Then Jesus met them, stopping them in their tracks. 'Good morning!' he said. They fell to their knees, embraced his feet, and worshiped him. Jesus said, 'You’re holding on to me for dear life! Don’t be frightened like that. Go tell my brothers that they are to go to Galilee and I’ll meet them there.'"(Matthew 28:1-10, MSG)

Put yourself in their place. What would it have been like to look up and see Jesus greet them? UNBELIEVABLE! For them, the day after Easter was the best day ever! The One they had seen crucified was now alive and they couldn’t help but spread the news!

So, how will you live life after Easter? Life after Easter can be the best day ever….. once you understand what the day before was all about.

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.