The agony of the cross faded into a silent anguish and the grief that follows the unexpected.
“What do we do now? I thought He would lead us to glory and victory… I can’t believe He’s gone…”
The answers didn’t come… at first.
But then the silence of Saturday was broken as the Lion of Judah shook death still in His jaws, threw it to the side, and stepped out of the grave with an earth shaking roar. An incredible victory – but one that perhaps shouldn’t surprise us as it does. What else would the Author of Life do when He’d tasted death? (What a luxury is a couple millennia of hindsight!) The greatest victory is always one that is shared.

What may be even more amazing is that Jesus put His power over death to use at great personal cost for the benefit of those who are powerless against it without Him. We have no hope against death outside of the hope He has given us by inviting us into life, His life. So that’s exactly what He did. He’s invited us to share in His victory.
“Or have you forgotten that when we were joined to Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined Him in His death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. and just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with him in His death, we will also be raised to life as He was.”
Paul, in a letter to Christians in Rome
Easter was certainly different this year. But Jesus’ power over death has not been diminished. Our union with Him still leaves us with nothing to fear from death. And His selfless use of His power for our benefit is still the example we follow.
I wonder… What power do you have? How are you using it to benefit someone else and help people find the Way to life? How are you entering into the darkness and uncertainty and fear in your family and neighborhood with the light of hope and faith and love?