To how many of us might the description unschooled and ordinary apply? Although we secretly aspire to influencer status with millions of followers, most of us are actually pretty ordinary. I know I’m special (in my own way) and I embrace self-esteem etc., etc., but I admit to a level of ordinary-ness that keeps rearing its plain-looking head.

I have gone to a lot of school. So I have that going for me—which is nice.

The ruling council in Jerusalem called Peter and John to the carpet for preaching about Jesus. Filled with the Holy Spirit, their response stunned the council members: When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

I find it easy to underestimate unschooled, ordinary people. It’s mostly pride, I suppose, but also the lack of markings I find compelling. Degrees, position, status and money are a few of the guideposts I refer to when sizing up someone I meet. I keep it more subtle than the members of the Sanhedrin, but it’s ever present.

Peter and John possessed a short resume: They fished, and they were with Jesus. Spending years with Jesus—and being filled with the Holy Spirit—turned men good with nets into apostles who turned the world upside down. How many authors throughout history have been read more than John and Peter? Maybe only Moses.

I try to keep all this in mind. Ordinary is ok, and unschooled is no shame. But take ordinary and unschooled, then add Jesus and the Holy Spirit. That combo lifts even the plainest to undreamed heights.

Acts 4 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Timon Studler

He is risen indeed!

Women hoping to care for the body of Jesus were the first to visit his tomb early Sunday morning. But no body was to be found, only an angel announcing startling and wonderful news.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.”

And so launched a new era. Around the world today Easter celebrations bring to mind these faithful women and their angel as the call of He is risen! is echoed by He is risen indeed!

Those saints ran from the empty tomb to tell others of the resurrected Jesus. This set even more people running to spread the good news.

Which pretty much has been going on ever since.

William-Adolphe Bouguereau – The holy women at the tomb (1890) 

The day between the Friday crucifixion of Jesus and his Sunday resurrection brought a pause. The disciples scattered and hid, traumatized by the brutal trial and killing of their teacher. They must have feared they were next, and only started to process the profound loss of Jesus and all their dashed hopes.

But not everyone remained inactive. The chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate and requested a guard be placed at the tomb. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive the deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead.”

The disciples may have pushed aside the idea of a resurrection, but not the priests. Believing Jesus a charlatan, they looked for deception, sleight of hand, a theft followed by lies. That’s how these leaders worked. So, they posted a contingent of armed guards in front of the tomb to keep anyone from getting in.

They never considered someone might get out.

Saturday evening the chief priests went to bed, smug in their assumption all contingencies were met and they controlled this Jesus stuff. The disciples dropped off in grief, if they slept at all, to splintered dreams of their new reality.

It was the last night any of them snuffed out a candle holding to those beliefs.

Matthew 27:62-65

Photo by Sincerely Media

Ever wonder why today is called Good Friday? The title refers to an older usage of the word good, meaning holy or set apart. Referring to the Bible as the Good Book is another example. Holy Friday sounds more appropriate.

More than good, today is actually a great day, a day of immense importance. In my opinion, here are the four most important days in history:

Christmas Day—the day of the birth of Jesus.

Good Friday—the day of the crucifixion of Jesus.

Easter Day—the day of the resurrection of Jesus.

A Future Day—the day of the return of Jesus.

Today is good because the unsolvable was solved, the grand debt was paid, blood was shed in sacrifice, wrath appeased. Today is good for me, for you, for history and for the cosmos. All creation took notice on this day, the skies went dark and the earth shivered.

Jesus ended the day with the words It is finished. And though a dark and bloody and hate-filled day, we remember it as good.

Why?

Because Sunday’s coming.

Photo by Wim van ‘t Einde