Good Friday
March 30, 2018
Scripture Reading: John 20:1-18
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’ Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went towards the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes. –John 20:1-10
I was sitting at my desk in an interior office of a state office building. Secretarial staff had desks in an open area outside each of the enclosed offices. Suddenly as if a conductor had raised a baton all the secretarial staff jumped up and shouted words that all said: “What was that?” That was the Oklahoma City bombing. Radios were turned on and we soon heard the announcement that the Murrah Federal building in downtown Oklahoma City had exploded. Emergency respondents were assessing the situation and rescue efforts were beginning. Tentative analysis thought it might have been a gas explosion. Our building was located over 25 blocks from the Murrah building. I had not heard or felt anything. Although the occupants of the open space had experienced both the sound and the shaking. By then we had located a TV and were seeing the mess in living color. When the call went out for blood donors, particularly those with O- blood, I rushed to my car and headed for the Blood Institute a few blocks away finding a line five blocks long before I even got near the building. I then heard that a bank had opened another site and I headed there with an equally long line, which I joined. Only seconds later an official coming down the line asked who had O- blood and I moved me much closer to the front of the line. It was a surreal experience. One I watched for days on TV trying to make sense of it all. Everybody in Oklahoma City that day has their own story to tell.
All those who experienced first hand the last days of Jesus had their own stories to tell. John remembered the detail that he outran Peter but stopped and let Peter enter the tomb first. Mary Magdalene acknowledging that she did not at first recognize Jesus. All were in shock. Some remembered Jesus’ predictions of his death. Judas could not cope with what he had done. The entire world changed that day.
We serve a risen Savior and continue his ministry to this day. He is our guiding strength. This is the week we set aside to acknowledge all that Jesus Christ is and is to come.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for saving our souls continue to make us whole as we seek to serve you. Amen.