Over the years, as we celebrate Holy Week, I have pondered what it must have been like for the disciples to have experienced Jesus’ death: the darkest three days of their lives.  Everything they had hoped for, trusted in, and built their lives around had been lost.  They gave up everything—their livelihood, homes, families—to follow this Jesus and the new kingdom He would establish, and now it had all been taken away.  What were they to do now?

And then, I’ve tried to imagine the experience of the resurrection.  The amazement, wonder, shock, elation, and pure joy.  Could it be?  It really is true!  All that Jesus told them about had come to pass.  He is risen, along with everything that means!

This must have been one of the scripture passages that came to mind when the disciples first experienced the resurrection.  I can hear their “glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous” (vs. 15), raising up psalms, such as “give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!” (vs. 1)

It was like seeing the scripture as for the first time, not only in light of the psalmist’s original meaning from centuries before, but also now realizing the prophetic nature of the passage in light of Jesus, their risen king:

“I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.  The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.  This is the Lord’s doing: it is marvelous in our eyes.  This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (vs. 21-24)