An Easter unlike any other.

In the darkest of the darkness

THOSE claiming to be the Messiah were many. It was a tradition. They’d claim to be the chosen one, they’d be arrested and tried, then crucified, their followers crushed. One would-be messiah called himself Moses after the ancient prophet and claimed he could part the sea, again, and return his people from Roman rule to the Promised Land, again. After some drownings, he disappeared from history.

So after the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth, his disciples scattered. The women mourned. The men hid. After all, didn’t their Messiah turn into just another fake? What would be their fate? The same as his?

Just a few days before, they had eaten together. And talked:

“Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.”

—Matthew 26:33-35 And then, only a few hours later: “Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest’s house. And Peter followed afar off.

And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.

But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.

And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.

And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.

And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.

And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.”

—Luke 22: 54-60 So while the disciples had reason to fear, a few had a reason to be shamed. Peter had promised to march to his death for his Messiah. And instead denied even knowing Him. But could anybody blame him? He had been promised! The man who said the kingdom of God had come through Him was dead! Friday turned into Saturday turned into dawn on Sunday. Times were dark.

The disciples practiced social distancing. That is, they secreted away and cowered. They avoided crowds, lest they be spotted. They were unemployed. Futures iffy. When the women went to retrieve His body, not a man went with them.

Then something happened.