It’s Wednesday, but Thursday’s Coming

Rev. S. M. Lockridge (1913-2000), pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in San Diego, preached one of the most memorable sermons of the past century: “It’s Friday. But Sunday’s Coming.”

He concludes the most shared portion of this sermon with the words, 

It’s Friday

Jesus is buried

A soldier stands guard

And a rock is rolled into place

But it’s Friday

It is only Friday

Sunday is a comin’!

I suspect one of the reasons this sermon has maintained such notoriety is its poetic reminder to Lockridge’s listeners, us included, that even the darkest, bleakest day won’t get to win in the end. God’s glory and grace will shine into all the world’s pain, betrayal, suffering, and even death - and we can’t stop it. They can’t stop it. God’s grace is coming. Resurrection is coming. Life is coming. 

As I write this on Wednesday, fully aware that Thursday is coming (as it does every week), I sit and wonder if God will show up this week in these words.  Every. Single. Week. The Israelites surely wondered in that 400 year gap between the Hebrew and Christian scriptures if God was done speaking to them through prophets. And on our dark nights I know we wonder if the light of day will come. Will God show up with me now, in this place? Will God speak to me now, at this time? Will God love me now, in this pain?

Sunday, Jesus’ resurrection, is the promise and the fulfillment that the Fridays don’t get to last. They may be long, but Sunday will always outshine them.

In the New Testament letter to the Colossian church, the author reminds his or her readers that the glory of Christ’s resurrection is also their glory.

So, if you have been raised with Christ, 

seek the things that are above, 

where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 

Set your minds on things that are above, 

not on things that are on earth, for you have died, 

and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 

When Christ who is your life is revealed,

 then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

(Col. 3:1-4)

In your dark nights, when you wonder if God will show up for you, hold onto the promise of the resurrection. It might be Friday now, but Sunday's coming. You might be buried in fear and pain now, but Sunday's coming. Friday certainly happened for Christ, just like for us, but so did Sunday.

Blessings,

Pastor Amy