It’s Sunday but Monday is coming
Maybe you have heard these famous words, “It’s Friday but Sunday is coming!” This is about Good Friday leading into Easter Sunday. There is great anticipation for Christians starting on Good Friday and building up to Resurrection Sunday.
But what about Monday?
Churches are packed on Easter Sunday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Resurrection songs are sung, and most people leave their churches feeling happy and blessed. But what about Monday? Monday might just be the most important day.
The resurrection of Jesus is for ordinary people living their ordinary lives, which happen to include Mondays and Tuesdays and work days and sick days and Thursdays and, well, I think you get the point.
I was talking to a friend yesterday and asking him about his church and their Easter service. With a crooked smile he said, “You know, it was a great service and everything, but you know how it goes? Will we see all those extra people who came out for Easter next Sunday?”
I can relate to what he said. The resurrection is for every Christ follower every day, but I think for a lot of people it’s a one-day event like Thanksgiving or Christmas. For the Christian, it should be an everyday event. From the time we get up in the morning until we lay our head on our pillows at night, there should be an awareness that our lives have forever been changed because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This doesn’t mean we will skate through life with no problems. Everyone has problems. Jesus said, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. Some of our struggles are normal, everyday struggles, but there are those times when we need resurrection power and support to get through a crisis.
In saying this, I'm thinking about a family that used to come to our church until they moved to the East Coast many years ago. They were a beautiful, godly family who were very involved in the leadership of our church. Tragically, their 18-year-old son was killed in a car accident two weeks before Easter. When I heard the news, I could hardly believe it. This family has traveled to far away places with their children to do missionary work. Both mom and dad felt that their son was going to be mightily used by God in the coming years. That dream died when a state trooper knocked on their door and told them that their son had been killed in a car accident. I’ve since read some of mom’s posts on social media, and I can’t believe the strength and courage this family has demonstrated in facing the greatest tragedy of their lives. They have openly talked about their grief and sense of loss. They also have talked about the hope they have that one day they will see their son again.
That is the power of the resurrection. This beautiful family has received a tremendous outpouring of love from other Christians. That is the power of a resurrection community.
To celebrate Easter one day a year and live the rest of the year on your own strength and power is like having millions of dollars in your bank account but living like you are broke! Because of the resurrection, we can face our tomorrows with hope and strength. In 1 Peter 1:3 (ESV) it says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…”
I’m writing this article on a Tuesday. Today is resurrection Tuesday, and tomorrow is resurrection Wednesday, and I can’t wait to see what God will do the rest of this resurrection week.
He is risen!
Stay close to Jesus,
Steve