Because He Went Ahead of Us

This is the beginning of Holy Week. But because of the coronavirus, this Easter season will look very different.

For one, we won’t be seeing relatives. It’ll be quieter, less travel. And presents us an opportunity to celebrate Easter, what Jesus has done for us, like we’ve never done before.

What does it mean that Jesus died on the cross and rose again? And what does this have to do with the coronavirus and the dreaded COVID-19?

And how can you not be afraid during this time? (And how can Cheryl have the nerve to say that we don’t have to be afraid?!)

How can we be certain?

Imagine you are seven-years-old. No coronavirus… No social distancing… And you are with your favorite babysitter.

And it’s a gorgeous day! You are outside in the bright sun. There is a gentle breeze as you walk on the sidewalk together. You are happy because you know your babysitter loves you and you’re safe with her.

And today she tells you that there is this amazing playground.

She’s been there and she wants you to come and enjoy it too.

But when you get to the entrance of the playground, there is a very tall fence around it and the only way to get into the playground is through a narrow opening of a long tunnel.

And as you peer inside, it’s really dark. You can’t see to the other side. Not even a flicker of light. And it’s filthy too, with sand on the bottom and grimy dirt on the ceiling.

Your heart starts beating really fast and you’re breathing hard. A million thoughts come to your mind.

What if there’s spiders in the tunnel? What if one bites you and you get sick?

Or what if there is a hole in the tunnel, and you can’t see the hole, so you fall through and get hurt?

What if there is no end to the tunnel because it’s been blocked off by huge, heavy rocks, and you get stuck in the darkness and can’t get out?

Your throat gets really dry. You want to go to the playground, you want to see what your babysitter was telling you… but you’re afraid.

And you tell your babysitter, but she says there’s nothing to be afraid of. Even though it looks scary, she tells you the tunnel is completely safe.

But you aren’t sure. You’re still afraid.

So, your babysitter tells you that she’ll go into the tunnel ahead of you.

She gets on her hands and knees and you watch her go into the tunnel. You peer in after her, but soon her backside and the soles of her sneakers are swallowed up by the darkness.

You can’t see her anymore.

And now you’re terrified.

You stand up and watch, your eyes wide, with your fists clenched, as you wait for your babysitter to appear at the other end. Your heart is pounding against your ribs, you are so afraid.

And then you see her. First the top of her head, then her shoulders. She strands up with her arms stretched toward the sky in victory.

She turns to face you—and she’s beaming. She’s smiling so big and so bright.

And you’re smiling too.

Because she made it through.

Although the tunnel was dark and scary, by going ahead of you she showed you that it is safe to cross. Not only do you have her promise, but now you have proof. She went ahead of you.

And with that knowledge, with that eyewitness experience, you have courage to endure the dark, scary tunnel and get to the amazing playground on the other side.

These days can feel like peering into a dark tunnel.

Especially today in America, where (at least in my opinion) we used to feel relatively safe, wealthy, and confident. Sure, there’s always been cancer, high blood pressure, financial issues and we’ve been dirtying up the oceans—but coronavirus feels different. It’s terrifying.

My friend and her spouse lost both their jobs.

My father-in-law has diabetes and is at high-risk of COVID-19.

And this got my attention: a 30-year-old baseball coach, without underlying health conditions, died of COVID-19. https://nypost.com/2020/04/02/healthy-new-jersey-baseball-coach-dies-of-coronavirus/

These are scary things. As scary as a dark tunnel.

But I have good news.

If you put your faith in Jesus right now, if you decide to trust Jesus as your King and Savior, you can have a confidence that goes beyond what we physically see and this present age.

Jesus says of Himself in John 14:6 that He is the Way and the Truth and the Life. And it is only through Jesus, through Himself, and through no one else, that we have access to the Father God. That we become adopted in the family of God.

This doesn’t guard our physical life on earth.

But it secures a place in heaven, where Jesus sits on the throne. Where Jesus is Alpha and Omega, who died and is alive forever (Revelation 1:17-18; Revelation 22:13).

We have a greater enemy than the coronavirus. (And I’ll admit again the coronavirus is terrifying.)

That enemy is sin (which is separation from God) and Satan (whose main objection is to separate us from God). The consequence of sin is death.

But without Jesus, without Someone to take the punishment our sins deserve, there is a second death. An eternal separation from God.

How about you? How’s your relationship with God these days?

What better day to earnestly seek God for the first time than during Holy Week in the year 2020?

My personal hope is that you—yes, you, reading this—may put your hope in Jesus today and enjoy the blessing of eternity, that security.

Even if we lose everything—our health, everything in our bank account, our family members—not even the coronavirus can take away our everlasting relationship with God.

How do we know for certain?

Because Jesus went ahead of us.

When Jesus suffered on the cross, he bore the wrath of God that our sins deserved. And Jesus died, as the punishment for our sins.

But what happened after three days in the grave?

Jesus rose from the dead!

With arms outstretched and with a giant smile He stands on the other side of tunnel of death and beckons us…

… to trust Him,… to listen to Him…

Because He went first to prove to us that through Him we can have assurance of forgiveness of sin and receive the gift of eternal life.

Eternal. Forever. Life.

Hosanna! Savior! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

Will you join me?

Will you set aside this week to learn about Jesus, to learn about the gospel?

And learn as if for the first time how Jesus conquered our greatest fear, the dark tunnel of death, and came out ALIVE on the side of heaven. For you. For me.

Jesus, who went ahead of us as the victor, is rooting for us to live a courageous life with faith in Him who overcame the world and proved that He is alive forever and is seated at the right hand of God.

This Easter season may be unique, even dark and scary, … but this is also a prelude to victory. To an eternal Hallelujah.

How have you and your family decided to spend this year’s Easter? I’d love to hear your experience!

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