Before Easter Comes

It's so easy to run ahead to Easter this week. We are so grateful for the happy ending. In fact, our very lives depend on it. But I wonder what it would be like to sit in the uncomfortable of Jesus' death and the utter hopelessness that so many felt on that Holy Saturday. How could the Messiah be dead?! Dreams of freedom seemed all but dashed. Persecution was a real possibility even to death for identifying as a follower of Jesus. The disciples locked themselves into rooms. It appears that Satan won. Can we sit in lament the next couple days no matter how uncomfortable it feels? By doing so, it will make Easter so much more joyful. I'm glad we know the rest of the story, but the disciples at the time didn't quite get it. How might we better identify with them? It looks like the sun has set. Let's stay there for awhile...until the Son rises again.