Sunday's Coming

Jesus was crucified on a Friday. That day was filled with brutality, humiliation, pain, and death. But Jesus knew that Sunday was coming. He knew that He would rise again. [See video in previous post]

In this life, we go through our own Friday experiences: sickness, pain, sorrow, disappointment. But there is also a Sunday coming for us. There is a future day of resurrection for every follower of Christ.

It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming.

Because of Good Friday, we can look back and not be afraid. Because of Easter, we can look ahead and not be afraid.

“Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant [uninformed] about those who fall asleep [those who have died before the coming of the Lord], or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. [Since] we believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).

What will happen on the day of resurrection?

1. On the day of resurrection, we will receive a new body.

“Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life” (2 Corinthians 5:1-4).

“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’” (1 Corinthians 15:51-55).

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body” (Philippians 3:20-21).

2. On the day of resurrection, we will receive a new home.

“‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am’” (John 14:1-3).

3. On the day of resurrection, we will begin a new life.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away’” (Revelation 21:1-4).

4. On the day of resurrection, we will enjoy a new experience.

“After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

5. As we await the day of resurrection, we have a new outlook: hope.

“Therefore encourage [comfort] each other with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18).

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).

“While we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

In 1971, Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote the popular gospel song “Because He Lives.” Back then, America was in turmoil with a bloody war in Southeast Asia and riots at home. At the same time, Bill contracted mononucleosis, which left him exhausted. When they suddenly discovered they were expecting another baby, Bill and Gloria asked themselves, “If this world is like this now, what will it be like in sixteen years for our baby? What will this child face?” While grappling with that question, they realized that the power of the resurrection of Jesus gives hope for tomorrow, whatever the circumstances. Their song reflects the truth about Easter:

Because He lives I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future.
And life is worth the living just because He lives.

It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming!