Worship: Sundays at 8:15 am | 9:40 am | 11:00 am, Wednesdays at 6:35 pm, Fridays at 7:00 pm

 

It was still the first day of the week. That evening, while the disciples were behind closed doors because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy. (John 20:19-20)

 

 

Words that have stuck with me ever since I first read them are these from Henri Nouwen:

 

     Joy is hidden in sorrow and sorrow in joy. If we try to avoid sorrow at all costs, we may never taste joy, and if we are suspicious of ecstasy, agony can never reach us either. Joy and sorrow are the parents of our spiritual growth.

 

For me, there is deep truth in these words. I can only imagine that the disciples would agree. What a week of juxtapositions they had just experienced! Only a week ago they had witnessed Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem (joy). Yet, they were completely unaware of what Jesus must have been feeling since he knew what would soon happen (sorrow). Then, just a few days later they had participated in the Passover with Jesus, a meal that He had earnestly desired to eat with them (joy) before being betrayed (sorrow). Next, the disciples witnessed the unimaginable - Jesus' suffering and death by crucifixion (sorrow). Finally, this happened:

 

           "When the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy."

 

Can you even imagine?!

 

The disciples must have felt like they were on a roller coaster ride of emotions, having plunged into the deepest of sorrows only then to soar into the greatest of joys...Jesus lives!

 

That surely is worth repeating...

 

JESUS LIVES!

 

Thanks be to God for the resurrection hope we have been given in Jesus Christ...for without it, we would not know that the worst thing that will ever happen to us will never be the last thing to happen to us! May such hope always give us the courage to fully embrace both joy and sorrow...and may they truly be for us the parents of our spiritual growth.  

 

Prayer -  

 

Almighty God, through your only Son you overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life. Grant that we who celebrate our Lord's resurrection, by the renewing of your Spirit, arise from the death of sin to the life of righteousness; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Gelasian Sacramentary, 5th century)

 

Rev. Aaron Rousseau

Contact Rev. Aaron Here 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Trinity United Methodist Church
4000 NW 53rd Ave | Gainesville, FL 32653
352.376.6615
TrinityGNV.org

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm | Friday, 8:30 am - 1:30 pm