The Day Between

 

For the average Christian woman, I hazard to guess, the Saturday between Good Friday and Resurrection Morning is a day of housecleaning, cooking, preparing and wrapping up finishing touches to Easter baskets – not to mention ensuring everyone in the family has something sufficiently spiffy to wear on the most important Sunday on the church calendar.

There will also most likely be some special church events to which she is contributing and preparing. All this would make for a busy, full Saturday – perhaps a bit harried and not at all conducive to meditations and ponderings.

We’ve all heard the saying, “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming”, which is of course referring to the awesome and miraculous reversal of Christ on the cross, suffering for our sin, to Christ risen, victorious over sin and death.

We have the privilege of knowing He is King – He has won. Our salvation, indeed Christianity in total, is based on that truth.

But the disciples – Peter, John and the others, the Lord’s mother, the devoted ladies named Mary – they didn’t have that insight.

After the Lord’s arrest, most of them scattered, which means they probably weren’t even together to comfort each other. They were afraid, surely – maybe they would be arrested next.

We know from Scripture that the disciples never fully understood when Jesus told them he would die – they expected him to reign as king in their time not some future age. Can you imagine their disappointment and confusion?

Peter tried to be brave, but couldn’t and denied the Lord three times – on top of that humiliation, Peter knew the Lord knew. He must have despised himself.

The ladies named Mary, including the Lord’s mother and John were at the cross, witnessing the Lord’s suffering and death – it had to be a brutal, bloody and horrific sight, not easily erased from memory.

How would you feel if it were your son? Can you imagine the devastation?

All this on the Sabbath – where they could not work or distract themselves with the myriad things we indulge in today.

They had the day to sit and think, weep and mourn, contemplate their own failings and cowardice, fear and worry – remember.

They probably began to seek each other out and gather, a huddled trembling group – wondering what would happen next.

We know.

We know, because they are the Lord’s witness and all believer’s everywhere through time owe them an immeasurable debt. They were faithful to His commission - if they hadn't been, we wouldn't be here.