As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant...They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. (Mark 9:9-10, 30-32 NIV)
In the spring of 2023, my beloved father went to be with the Lord. Just a year before, I had lost my dear grandmother. It seemed as though grief didn’t want to leave. My father and grandmother both played a crucial role not only in my personal upbringing, but spiritual as well. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to say goodbye to either of them. But as it turns out, I was never meant to say goodbye. Over the past few years, God has had to remind me that because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, I will once again be reunited with my lost loved ones. This is why I love to celebrate Easter. It fills my heart with so much peace, hope and joy.
Lent is a time when Christians prepare to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection at Easter. Yet I wonder how many of us truly believe in what we so solemnly observe every year. It’s not until our faith is put to the test that we truly know if it holds true. Our grief can turn to joy when we understand what Easter is all about. See, the disciples who walked closely with Jesus didn’t understand what He meant. Twice in today’s reading, we’re told that they didn’t get what Jesus meant when He spoke about His death and resurrection. It wasn’t until He died and rose again that they understood the Scriptures and the words of Jesus. I don’t know about you, but I’m thankful for the hope of the resurrection, and so I’m looking forward to Easter. Because of Jesus’ resurrection, I know that death is not the end. We will see our loved ones again. I pray that this Easter, you will take comfort in knowing that your faith in the resurrection of our Lord hasn’t been in vain. Because He lives, we will too.
Rising with the Son 