When Jesus died, the disciples thought he had left them. He was gone forever.
This was a shattering event for them. They had depended so much on him. He taught them, led them, and gave them courage.
And now he had left them. That was all they knew at the time.
What they didn't know was that Jesus had gone through death to the other side, to a new kind of life, and now was free of all the restrictions on this side of death. Now he could be with them even more closely than before.
But they didn't know this.
They would only come to know all these things when they experienced the risen Christ. Then they would know ... and believe that he would be with them forever.
The risen Christ has gone through death so that he can be even closer to you. And he invites you to go through death so that you can be closer to him.
It's great news.
And Jesus did it all for you.
- Little White Book, Diocese of Saginaw