We are in the midst of Holy Week. This week we will move through Jesus’ final days leading up to the cross. We know the crescendo to the story will come on Sunday, but we need not rush to the crescendo. We need to allow ourselves to feel the emotions of defeat, uncertainty, and death. Jesus died. Weeping is a real emotion, and the night may seem long. Yet, we wait with great expectation of what is to come.
In November 1988, my Paw-paw (Niles Stone) finished his race here on earth. He had battled cancer for nearly 10-years and no longer did the cancer have power or dominion in his life. I was in seventh grade and I was “Pa-Paw’s shadow.” I remember the depth of grief, hurt, and loss in my life. As we moved from the announcement of his death to the visitation and funeral, I was made aware of a letter Paw-Paw had written and given to each of his kids. This letter was to be read after his death. I don’t remember the substance of the whole letter, but I remember the last sentence, “I will see you in the morning.” As I walked past my Paw-Paw’s casket for the last time at the funeral, I spoke with tears flooding my eyes: “I will see you in the morning.”
For many people, the struggle of life, the battle against disease, and the reality of death brings weeping into our lives. We become tired and the finality of the situation overcomes us as we hope and wait for something better. The Psalmist writes in Psalm 30:5b, “weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” We know in God’s faithfulness that amid our most difficult times, there will be joy in the morning. In John 16:20 we read, “Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy.”
I want to invite you during this Holy Week to experience pain and loss tied to the reality of Jesus’ last meal with his disciples, the prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, the scourging, the crucifixion, and the burial. Allow the weeping to be for a night, while knowing that the joy comes in the morning.
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus for your sacrifice we are reminded of this week. We know the pain will last for the night, but we look forward to the joy coming in the morning. Amen.