As we prepare to commemorate the death and burial of Jesus and celebrate his resurrection, I’d like to share a perspective from preacher and pastor Tony Campolo, from one of his most well-known and inspirational sermons.
“It’s Friday… Jesus was nailed dead on a cross.
But it’s only Friday; Sunday’s coming!
It’s Friday… Mary’s crying her eyes out because her Jesus is dead.
But it’s only Friday; Sunday’s coming!
It’s Friday… The disciples are running around like sheep without a shepherd.
But it’s only Friday; Sunday’s coming!
It’s Friday… Pilate’s strutting around washing his hands because he thinks he’s got all the power and victory.
But it’s only Friday; Sunday’s coming!
It’s Friday… People are saying ‘as things have been so they shall be—you can’t change anything in this world.’
But it’s only Friday; Sunday’s coming!
It’s Friday… Satan’s doing a jig saying, ‘I control the whole world.’
But it’s only Friday; Sunday’s coming!
It’s Friday… The temple veil ripped from top to bottom, the earth shook, the rocks split, and tombs opened. The centurion screamed in fear, “Truly, He is the Son of God!”
But it’s only Friday; Sunday’s coming!
It’s Sunday…The angel, like dazzling lightning, rolled the stone away exclaiming, ‘He is not here! He is risen!’
It’s Sunday! It’s Sunday! It is Sunday!”
The Saturday after the crucifixion was the most hopeless day in the history of the church. Jesus, whom the disciples had thought was the one who would rescue them from bondage, the one they had hung all their hopes on was now dead. Sure, he had told them at least three times (as shown in the Gospels) that he would be killed and would rise from the dead, but he had been crucified! This wasn’t like the times Jesus raised someone who had died from illness, whom Jesus referred to as having just “fallen asleep.” Jesus had just been beaten, shredded, and nailed to a cross.
There was no coming back from that. His body had been destroyed. No, Jesus was gone forever, and with him, their hopes.
Sunday brought with it the realization that even crucifixion was no match for the power of Yahweh. The empty tomb showed Jesus’ power over all creation—even death—and restored hope to the world.
The glory of the resurrected Christ showed the disciples that everything he had told them was true; everything he had prophesied so far had happened just as he described; and, therefore, they could hold firmly to their faith about the things he said would come to pass in the future. As should we.
When the Fridays of our own lives seem to get the better of us and lead us into despair, we can renew our hope through the realization that Jesus has risen. He has conquered everything that could stand between us and him. It’s Sunday. It is Sunday.
Your Brother in Christ,
Fr. Austin