He has dreamed of being president most of his life and has devoted the better part of the last two years planning and campaigning. He loses the election. How does he spend the next day? Or, what does the man who wins the election do the next day?
The woman went to bed alone for the first time in almost fifty years because she buried her husband earlier that day. What does she do the next day?
The players have sacrificed time with friends, given up vacations as they practiced every day for months so they could make it to the championship game. They fell just short of the victory. When they get up the next day and remember there is no practice, and they realize they have played their last game, what do they do?
His wife has told him she does not love him anymore, she has found another, and is moving out. The next day when the alarm goes off he feels lost, confused, and empty. What does he do?
The judge has sentenced their son to five years in prison. What do the parents do the next day?
The teenaged boy looks into the stands for his parents but they are not there again. What does he do the next day?
The teenaged girl and her parents leave the doctor’s office. They are silent the entire trip home. When they get home she goes to her room. Her parents sit at the kitchen table looking out the window at the swing set where she once played without a care in the world. Now, she is carrying a child. What will she do the next day? What will they do the next day?
Jesus spent time with his special friends, demonstrated what it means to be a servant, and shared a meal with them. The next day, he went to the cross, was killed, and was buried. The next day he remained in the tomb. But on the chosen "next day," he arose from the dead. Because of what Jesus did on that "next day," we can live our next days!
Because Jesus arose, the loser in the race can find the strength to get back out in public and smile.
Because Jesus arose, the woman who went to bed alone can start the coffee alone, fix her breakfast alone, and do the same thing the next day.
Because Jesus arose, the players who did not realize their dream will begin preparing for next year.
Because Jesus arose, the confused lonely man will go to work and do his job. Then, he’ll do it again the next day.
Because Jesus arose, the parents will go to church and sit with their friends and go to lunch and somehow find a way to enjoy themselves.
Because Jesus arose, the teenaged girl and her parents will make a home for the new baby.
Because Jesus arose, we have hope. Because Jesus arose, we have life. Because Jesus arose, we have joy.
The next day ... Jesus arose. Because he did, we can arise and face our next days.
So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, Adam, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man, Christ. Everyone dies because all of us are related to Adam, the first man. But all who are related to Christ, the other man, will be given new life. But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised first; then when Christ comes back, all his people will be raised. ... How we thank God, who gives us victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ our Lord! So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord's work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. (1 Corinthians 15:21-23; 1 Corinthians 15:57-58)
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