Saturday Easter thoughts...

Today is Saturday. The day after Good Friday when we remember Jesus' death. The day before Easter Sunday when we celebrate His resurrection. Saturday is the day in between. In the middle of death and life. For us, it is an ordinary day. A day in which we prepare for a celebration that lies ahead, knowing full well that He is risen. However, sitting here, I wonder what it was like for people thousands of years ago.

I am sure there were people who did not care. The religious leaders who felt threatened by him, the politicians who did not want a so-called king to run them off, the people who cried out 'crucify him, crucify him'. They were the ones who did not walk with Jesus. They wanted to put an end to this man. To them, another criminal got what he deserved. For them life goes on. Another Saturday in the history of the world. Little did they know.

Then there were who followed Jesus- those who walked with him and talked with him. His disciples, his family, his friends, those who experienced his healing, children who had listened to his stories. For them I can imagine it felt as if the world had come to an end. Their friend, their king, had been killed. There was nothing they could have done to alter the course of history. They had to witness his pain and suffering. They had to watch him drag his cross up the hill. They looked on as he drew his final breath. Reality hit. He was gone. I can only imagine the emotions. How does one move on from such a gruesome encounter? Such injustice? I can imagine the anger, the questions, the bitterness, the sadness. For them it was likely the worst Saturday in history as they tried to make sense of what happened and wonder how life will go on. Little did they know.

Little did these people know that something very amazing, unfathomable, miraculous would happen the very next morning. Of course, the scriptures spoke of His resurrection, but this was prophecy. I imagine that on that Saturday, people were not expecting Jesus to rise again. They had not understood fully what Jesus' purpose was on earth. And so when Sunday came along, it was not a surprise that the women were trembling and bewildered at the tomb. It is not a surprise that the disciples did not believe. I think we would have all reacted similarly. But can you imagine what it must have been like for them to see him again? Pure joy I am sure. And we can approach this Sunday with that same joy. Knowing full well that He came and gave His life for us. He died and rose again. Amazing grace. He bore our sin and shame and we can now freely live. How glorious is His love!

Happy Easter.