Twenty-eight years ago, my husband, Terry, ran into the bush to cry. I didn’t find out until many years later. Running was a natural response for him, because he is a runner. What was not natural for him was to cry. In fact, I have never seen Terry cry in 59 years of knowing him. That day, he felt he had to run to express his grief and hopelessness in the privacy of the bush. We had never before witnessed the psychological state called mania, and that summer our eldest son went through a period of his first manic high. Chris was subsequently diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. Terry’s running into the bush was rooted in the sorrow and uncertainty of the moment.

A reference in God’s Word to running away also portrays the uncertainty of the moment.

Jesus and eleven of His disciples had gone to an olive grove called Gethsemane to pray. Jesus knew what lay ahead of Him, and expressed His grief and anguish to His heavenly Father in prayer. Suddenly, Judas arrived with a group of men, to betray Jesus to the authorities. They arrested Him. This was too much for the disciples. “At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled.” (Matthew 26:56b NLT) Like frightened sheep without a shepherd, they all ran away. Jesus was not surprised. Even though his loyal band of followers had previously vowed to never deny Him, Jesus knew they would. He had quoted the Old Testament, “God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.” (Zechariah 13:7 NLT)

We know the story does not end there! Fast forward a couple of days. Jesus had been crucified and Joseph of Aritmathea laid His body in his own new tomb. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary watched as he closed the tomb with a great stone rolled over its entrance. The next day, Pilate even ordered the tomb to be sealed, so no one could steal the body.

What a different picture presented itself on the third day! The two women who went back to visit the tomb were shocked and terrified. An angel spoke to the women, “’Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.’” (Matthew 28:5-7 NLT)

“The women ran quickly from the tomb.” (Matthew 28:8a NLT) This was a joyful run, as they hastened to tell the disciples the news. The disciples didn’t believe them.

“However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look.” (Luke 24:12a NLT) This impetuous disciple wanted to see for himself if it was really true. At first Peter puzzled over this strange turn of events, but later, as we read in the book of Acts, he embraced the role Jesus had given him of building the church.

As we celebrate the amazing event of Jesus’ resurrection, let’s joyfully run towards the Father, Who wants nothing more than to be in relationship with us!

Alice Burnett
Red Deer, AB, Canada