Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. [Mark 16:14 (ESV)]
Most of us probably spent Saturday preparing for Easter. We may have done last minute grocery shopping, prepped for Easter dinner, purchased an Easter lily, decorated eggs, assembled Easter baskets, snacked on jelly beans, or hidden plastic eggs around the yard. The previous day’s service on Good Friday had been a somber one but we knew the following day’s worship would be one of joy and celebration. While we may have sung “Were you There When They Crucified My Lord?” on Friday, we knew that we’d be singing “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” on Sunday.
Because we know how Good Friday’s story ends, we don’t mourn, feel abandoned, or fear being arrested on Saturday. The disciples, however, didn’t know that Sunday would reveal an empty tomb. Having been unable to finish preparing Jesus’ body and offer a proper hepsed (eulogy), there must have been a feeling of unfinished business and, when the Sabbath ended, the women purchased burial spices. Scripture, however, is strangely silent about that Saturday and the narrative does not resume until Sunday morning.
Did His followers tear their clothes in grief as did Jacob when he thought Joseph was dead? Did they wear sack cloth as did David upon Abner’s death? To show their grief and anguish, did they fast and cover themselves with ashes in sorrow and anguish as did the Jews when they learned that King Xerxes had ordered their death? Did they tear their robes, cover their heads with ashes, and silently sit shiva with Mary as Job’s friends had done for him?
Their sense of despair and defeat must have been unbearable. How could they make sense of all that happened? Thinking they’d never again see Jesus, was there regret or anger that they’d given up their homes and livelihoods for what now seemed a failed Messiah? Consider their heartache and the many “would’ves, could’ves, and should’ves” as they remembered Thursday night. Think of their remorse for having fallen asleep while Jesus prayed, the shame of abandoning Him in the garden, and Peter’s self-reproach for denying Him three times in the courtyard.
The disciples never fully understood when Jesus spoke of his impending death. Not expecting God’s plan to be the crucifixion, death, and burial of His only Son, they didn’t expect Jesus to return. When their rabbi said, “It is finished!” they didn’t know what Jesus finished. Seeing no future, the disciples lost hope and didn’t even believe the women when they reported the empty tomb.
Perhaps the gospel writers chose not to tell us about that gloomy Saturday because the disciples weren’t especially proud of it. Yet, they reported things like Peter’s denials, Thomas’ doubt, and James and John wanting places of honor. Perhaps there’s no mention of Saturday because we’re not meant to dwell in the Saturdays of our lives.
I’m not talking about the day we get the chores done, take the kids to soccer practice, or watch Saturday Night Live. I’m speaking of the times when disaster, despair, regrets, or anguish assault us and we can’t see tomorrow because of the darkness of today. The disciples’ Saturday lasted less than 48 hours but our Saturdays often last much longer.
The disciples didn’t know that Saturday was simply a day between despair and joy, but we do. Because Jesus rose from the dead on Sunday, we know that we have not been abandoned. Because Jesus gave us His Holy Spirit, we know that we’ll never be alone. No matter how long our Saturdays are, we have no reason for despair, fear, or anxiety. Whether in this world or the next, a glorious Sunday eventually will come.
Today is Maundy (or Holy) Thursday—the day many Christians throughout the world will observe the institution of the Lord’s Supper/Eucharist/Holy Communion by coming to the Lord’s table. Regardless of what you call this sacrament, Jesus’ mention of a “new covenant” probably will be part of your service. Not a word commonly used today, what is a covenant and how does it differ from a contract?
It was the week before the Passover and Jerusalem was teeming with pilgrims who’d come for the celebration. News of the rabbi who’d brought Lazarus back to life was spreading through the crowd. As the people prepared to celebrate their deliverance from slavery in Egypt, they hoped for the promised Messiah who would deliver them from the tyranny of Rome. Could Jesus be the one to do that?
The Israelites were camped on the east side of the Jordan River, in view of Canaan, when Moses addressed them. After spending the last forty years as nomads in the wilderness of the Sinai Peninsula, can you imagine their excitement at the thought of finally having a place to call their own and their eagerness for a new beginning in a new land? There must have been some apprehension, as well. They weren’t naïve; they knew there would be conflict, battles, and even loss before Canaan was conquered.
Devotions of the Heart 