BlessedSample

The devastation the disciples felt after Jesus died must have been nearly paralyzing. They had lost their Leader, their King, their Friend. And they had lost Him in the most hopelessly unfair way. They did life with Jesus and knew more than anyone how He was innocent—so they knew how wrong it was when He was caught up in and murdered by an unfair system. The hurt and confusion they must have felt after His death was smothering. Thankfully, after Jesus died, the disciples gathered—together. Mary and the women found the tomb empty, and where did Jesus send them? To the disciples. Who were gathered. Together. They were not alone in facing their deepest grief—thank goodness. It’s like Jesus set them up with a little community so they wouldn’t have to walk through the grief and confusion and darkness alone.

What a sweet gift from Jesus. And we have that same sweet gift from Jesus—each other. The presence of fellow Jesus followers in hard times doesn’t take the pain away, but it does make it more bearable. Jesus knew life in this broken world would be hard, sometimes cripplingly so. So He gave us each other to hug and to hold and to grieve with. Our Father never wanted us to weep alone.