Even though Jesus shared with his disciples beforehand that “the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again,” after Jesus died on the cross, the disciples lived as though Jesus was dead forever. (Mark 8:31)

Forever.

It’s part of the human condition. When our expectations are violated, when we’re facing hardship, when life is tough, we feel like it will be this way forever. And it’s the same when things are going well. When we’re on a roll, when life is good, we also fall into the trap of thinking it will be this way forever.

Neither is true.

Many people feel that way about life right now because of the impacts of COVID-19. They’re feeling like they’ll be unemployed — forever. Or they feel like hugs and handshakes are gone — forever. Or they feel like large gatherings are gone — forever. It’s so easy to fall into that kind of thinking. It’s our nature to do so. But it’s just not true. So take heart. The night won’t last forever. The sunrise is coming.

Yesterday we looked at the mocking, and torture, and crucifixion Jesus endured for us. We saw what it looked like when Jesus took the weight of the sins of the whole world upon himself. (The Good Shepherd Dies)

But Sunday’s coming.

Jesus won’t be in the tomb forever.

Tomorrow the disciples will hear the words,

“He is risen.”