The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. "Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again,' So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first." "Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how." So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.
Matthew 27:62-66
I think that Saturday must have been one of the longest days in the history of the world. He was dead. The disciples had all deserted. While he had told them what was going to happen, they hadn't understood. Jesus's "it is finished"(John 19:30), must have sounded to his followers ears like "it is all over." He's not who we thought he was. We were beginning to think maybe he was the Messiah. . .the one sent to save us. Instead of watching him take the throne, yesterday we watched him die.
Imagine the disciples' hopelessness at not having the whole picture. Without the resurrection, the crucifixion is pointless. It's not the climax of the story, it's the end. Without Sunday, Saturday is as grim as it gets.
How often that is how I live. God has told me in his Word time and again that He is in control. That he has a plan. That he will redeem the pain and sorrow and turn it into joy and dancing. But then comes a crisis. And Saturday rolls around, and I'm without hope. I forget all of His promises. Every one. I settle into the misery of my situation, feeling every bit as hopeless as things look. Forgetting the promises of the God I know. Forgetting that if he says he will redeem, he will redeem. If he says he will be faithful, he will be faithful. If he says he will rise, he will rise.
God, help us trust you. Remind us that we are not to the end of our stories yet. That this page in the middle may look grim, but there are more chapters to come. When things look hopeless, remind us that you are the God of hope.
Meg Henderson
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Great post Meg. I can't help but think about the significance of Christ resting in the grave on Saturday, the Sabbath - his Fathers day of rest. Too, it's amazing Christ, even in the final moments, made a declaration [and fulfilled prophecy] by saying, "Father, why hast thou forsaken me." By crying these words, Jesus not only cried in anguish - he cried in triumph. The disciples had to have wondered what Gods plan truly was in the midst of their confusion and disappointment. The fear the disciples had on the Sabbath had to have flowed into Sunday morning as well before hearing the news. This fear is explained by John regarding Sunday morning as to why they were first together: "The doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews." John 20:19 Another thought about Sunday morning - Christ did not immediately go to heaven upon his death, and had not seen his Father after the grave, “Do not touch me, for I am not yet ascended to my Father” [John 20:17]. Can you imagine the anticipation Christ felt Sunday morning with the thought of embracing his heavenly father after such an amazing victory.
ReplyDelete-Erik