Easter Saturday

We all know what happened on Good Friday. We've seen the movies, the images, read the verses, heard the stories of a man brutally beaten, spit upon, ridiculed, and killed in the most painful, torturous way possible. And of course, we know the story of the glory of Easter Sunday. An empty tomb, a resurrected Savior, death defeated, eternal salvation won. But what about Saturday? What about the day in between the worst day in history and the best? I always try to reflect on the significance of Easter Saturday. Saturday was the sabbath and required no work to be done. It was so important to the Jews in that day that you could literally be stoned by the community for not observing the sabbath. This brought up a few issues on Easter weekend. First, they had to remove Jesus' body Friday evening and perform the burial preparations before the sabbath began. This is why scripture shows Mary Magdelene and Mary of Galilee going back to the tomb Sunday with oils and perfumes. They were going to complete the burial process which had to be done in haste Friday evening. Of course they couldn't do it Saturday because of the sabbath. For me though, the most significant part of the Saturday following the crucifixion was the uncertainty of it. Even though Jesus had predicted His death and resurrection, the disciples still didn't get it. As my pastor has said, the disciples weren't sitting at the tomb doing a countdown to resurrection. They didn't prop him up in the tomb, ready for action. They performed what burial rites they could....because He was dead. Unlike us, who know the significance of Sunday, they did not spend Saturday in anticipation of the glory of Easter. My guess is that they spent it in deep mourning over the loss of their friend. They spent it in quiet reflection of what had happened the day before and what that would mean going forward. They probably spent it questioning if Jesus really was who He had said He was. I know I would've. I know that I have.

Haven't we all experienced a time where it seemed like He was nowhere to be found? Haven't we all looked at our circumstances, walked beside Jesus, and just when we expected things to go a certain way, they took a sharp left turn...and we looked beside us and feel that He's left? We've all experienced dreams unfulfilled, prayers unanswered, and the presence of the Lord seemingly gone. Today we see the disciples as pillars of faith but before Easter Sunday, they all doubted and questioned and betrayed Jesus. So what's the point? 

The point is this...we have the benefit of knowing the rest of the story. We can sit today in anticipation of the glory of tomorrow. Instead of looking at our circumstances through the lens of Easter Saturday with an unknown future, we can look at them through the lens of Easter Sunday. The resurrection. The day Christ won and defeated evil. He overcame death, defeated the grave, and rose victorious. As recipients of God's beautiful grace and co-heirs to the throne, we are risen with Him. Our faith is not circumstantial. Today as we anticipate the glory of Easter and the significance of tomorrow, let's not lose sight of the true meaning of the weekend. Easter Saturday is more than just last-minute grocery shopping, egg hunts, and filling Easter baskets. It is the reminder that our hope is found in Jesus. It is our reminder that the Lord's compassions are new every day (Lam 3:22-23) and "weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." (Ps 30:5) Tomorrow is resurrection day. Praise be to God.

"Put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem [His people] from all their sins." Psalm 130:7-8