2025 In Focus (Day 1)

Luke 24:1-12

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

It’s a interesting thing to sit in the sanctuary on the first day of the year. Total silence. Extreme quiet. Having time to reflect. This is the only way I knew to begin this year. 2024 felt like the biggest blur and environment of chaos. Every month was filled with some obstruction or challenge. That year, tested, my faith, my commitment, and my will to fight.

I can’t take away any of the pain, suffering, or hurt from all that was revealed to me. Yet, I begin this year living into the hope of the resurrection. It feels slightly odd to be on the tail end of the advent season looking towards the empty to.

I think I understand why the Lord led me to this particular scripture. Sometimes, we place so much emphasis on being crucified That we do not take the time to recognize the magnitude of what Resurrection means for our lives. The Resurrection provides many things. It presents shock to those who witnessed your death. It presents disbelief when you witnessed the object of your love die. It provides hope and recall to things said and done before.

2024 was a three day grave for old things. It was the final resting place for old mentalities, old methods, unwanted attitudes, and entities that are no longer useful. I cannot treat 2025 or any year going forward as a rebound from the previous year. This time must be handled as his own separate entity. It must be the season where I personally lean into the resurrection power of my Christ. To rise from the dead, not with perfect skin or lack of blemish. However, I must stand in this season as healed from the wounds of the cross and the indignity of the whipping. I must rise and sand as the evidence that one can endure and overcome.