What Will Happen Next?
Imagine with me for a moment. Go back in time about 2,000 years, to the time when Jesus lived and was crucified. Can you imagine the Jerusalem Tribune newspaper editor’s dilemma? It was the day after the Passover holiday weekend. There was news to report, but how were they going to have enough space to cover each story? The editor is scratching his head as he looks at the notes he has written to himself:
Story #1 – The curtain at the temple has been torn from top to bottom. Only priests are allowed in the Holy Place. Only the High Priest is allowed in the Holy of Holies. What does it mean for this curtain to tear from top to bottom?
Story #2 — Holy heroes from days of old are raised from the dead. What a stir as great saints from days gone by come back and tell of the next life! They have all returned talking about how Heaven is great. But what really causes people to shake their heads is the strange story that these resurrected saints have been telling. They are all talking about how Heaven is abuzz with news about the Messiah. They say that the Messiah has been on the earth! They say the Messiah was murdered and raised from the dead.
Story #3 — This is perhaps the most amazing story. The popular teacher, Jesus of Nazareth, was arrested, hastily tried, and killed before the Passover. It was the death of Jesus that all of these amazing stories revolved around. Jesus’ crucifixion was not normal. Reports state that there was a solar eclipse during Jesus’ execution. When the solar eclipse ended, Jesus shouted, “It is finished” and promptly died. Witnesses say that the instant Jesus died there was a massive earthquake. This happened at the same time that the dead saints were resurrected and the temple curtain tore.
Story #4 –- Roman soldiers responsible for overseeing the execution of Jesus are claiming that Jesus is the Son of God. While most Jews do not normally care what the heathen Romans think and say, it is their change of thinking that has the people of Jerusalem talking. Jerusalemites are wondering what could have happened that made the ungodly Roman soldiers believe in Jesus.
As the editor for the Jerusalem Tribune puzzles over which story to put on the front page, several reporters come rushing in. It seems that there is a new story breaking. Soldiers responsible for guarding the tomb of this crucified Jesus are reporting that they saw an angel and that Jesus has risen from the dead. As the editor makes his notes, he mutters, “What is going to happen next?”
Matthew 27 gives us the basis for this story. While I have used creative imagination to write this story, I want to ask you to consider the same question that our fictitious editor pondered. As we continue to learn about Jesus, as we live each day, and as we make choices: What is going to happen next? Let us believe that God is in control and will do great things through us. Keep looking up!