Limbo

April 20, 2019

DAILY READING

John 19:38-42
This weekend’s reading: Matthew 28:1-10

FIELD NOTES

Today we experience the darkness of Holy Saturday. Jesus has died and has been laid in the tomb by two secret disciples — Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. The disciples have gone home, each grieving his or her own heart-shattering loss. The crucifixion is over but the resurrection has not yet occurred and none of Jesus’ closest friends have even a glimmer of hope that such a thing might happen. They are sunk in a limbo of grief and despair.

Like the disciples after Jesus’ crucifixion, life can bring us many “limbos” — waiting for the test results; searching for a new job; losing a loved one.In these dark, foggy times we may feel all hope is gone, that there’s no tomorrow waiting for us. But the resurrection of Jesus shows us that limbo doesn’t have the last word. To quote a wise, dear friend, “The worst thing never trumps the best thing.” Today is Saturday but tomorrow is Easter Sunday!

QUESTIONS FOR THE FIELD 

• When have you found yourself in “limbo”? How did you find your way to hope?

FAMILY FIELD TALK 

• Have you ever had to wait for something you’ve really wanted? How did you feel while you waited? What did it feel like when what you were hoping for happened?

PRAYER GUIDE

Jesus, today we remember that there was a day of limbo, where darkness seemed to have won, where hope seemed to have died. As we go through times of limbo in our lives, help us to remember that you triumphed over sin and death and restored hope to our lives. Amen.