Easter.
A time of celebration that Jesus has risen from the dead. A time of celebration that Jesus died for our sins. A time of celebration that Jesus was who He said He was. The King of kings and the Lord of lords. He is the Messiah.
During the Easter season, I think many of us miss out on one important day.
Saturday.
I have a lot of questions about the in-between time of Jesus dying on the cross until Jesus rising from the dead. Here are just a few questions I have:
What happened after Jesus died on the cross and before He rose?
What were the disciples and followers of Jesus thinking that day that He died?
What were they thinking when he breathed His last breath and said, “It is finished”?
What were they thinking when they saw that spear pierce His side finalizing that He was no longer here on this earth?
What were they thinking when Jesus was placed in the guarded tomb with a white linen cloth wrapping His body?
What were they thinking when Jesus had left His earthly body and they had a whole Saturday to wonder what was going to happen next?
I guess what I am asking is, what happened on that Saturday?
My guess is a lot of doubt happened.
A lot of fear happened.
A lot of hiding happened.
A lot of questioning happened.
A lot of unknowns happened.
A lot of running away happened.
A lot of denial happened.
I can just see the disciples sitting in a room saying, “Did we waste the last 3 years of our life following Jesus, giving up everything, leaving our families, for this moment right now? Did Jesus fool us? Where are youuuuuu Jesus? What is everyone going to think of me? I think I have lost my mind!?!? What now? We are going to be hunted down and killed. Everyone will be out to get us. Our lives will never be the same. Jesus you better come back on the third day otherwise I’m never going to be able to show my face in this place again!”
I’m sure some verbal fights broke out that day among them, putting blame on each other and going over how all of this could have been avoided. I’m sure many people cursed Jesus. I’m sure people started running for their lives so they wouldn’t suffer persecution.
But here is the kicker, no matter what anyone did differently, that day couldn’t have been avoided. It had to happen.
Jesus had to die on that Friday.
His followers had to wait on that awfully long Sabbath Saturday.
They had to be patient. They had to trust. They had to put their doubts aside. They had to remember what Jesus had taught them. They had to remain faithful. They had to remember the promises He said.
They had to sit and wait, for what probably seemed like the longest day of their lives, for Jesus to answer.
And guess what? Jesus did on that beautiful Sunday morning.
I have found myself in a period of a Saturday lately. In a season of waiting, being still, listening for Jesus, unknowns, remembering God’s promises, and more waiting.
Waiting is not an easy thing to do in a culture of instant gratification.
But if Easter offers us any kind of hope, it is that Jesus delivers on His promises. Waiting needs to happen so that God’s glory can shine even brighter. Jesus is who He said He was. Sometimes the darkest hours bring the brightest light. Sometimes long Saturday’s need to happen for Sunday’s to come along.
If you are in a season of a “Saturday” I want to offer you some hope. Jesus has you waiting and wondering so that He can show you how faithful He is. He delivers on His promises when you stop and wait on Him. Instead of doubting in this season, run closer to Him. Be still and allow God to show you a miracle. Wait for Sunday in holy anticipation.
If it wasn’t for the Saturday of waiting after Jesus died, we never would have seen the fruit from blind trust, stillness, and faithfulness.
We never would have received our Sunday.
On that Sunday, Jesus rose from the dead. He came back. He delivered on His promise. He showed us He is the Messiah.
Maybe Saturday’s aren’t so bad after all.
Please pray this prayer with me.
Father,
Every single day I have the choice to trust You or not. Help me choose to trust You. Every single day I have the choice to believe Your promises or not. Help me choose to believe. Every single day I have the choice to be still in Your presence or not. Help me choose to be still. Every single day I have to choice to run to You or run away from You. Help me choose to run to You. Every single day I have the choice to wait and be patient or to rush You. Help me choose to wait on You. Jesus you gave it all for me on the cross and I can’t Thank You enough. Thank You for being faithful to me and delivering me from sin. Thank You for give me a million different chances to see who You really are. Thank You for never giving up on me and for waiting so patiently on me to realize how much You love me. Thank You Jesus for Your unfailing love.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen!
This month we are working with an organization called Helping Honduras’ Kids. They have a Children’s Home with around 25 children up to the age of 18 and we get to love on them and speak life into them every single day! We go to school with them at a beautiful school called, The Jungle School, that is right in the jungle. We have long days, early mornings, and early nights but the hugs we get every morning at 5:00 am make all of it worth it! We were able to take all the kids to a hotel for 3 days and 2 nights to swim, swim, and swim by the Caribbean Sea! Here are some of the kids enjoying the pool.
God even sent a baby to fall asleep in my arms (my favorite thing ever) to remind me of His unfailing love. There is nothing more comforting than a baby sleeping soundly on your chest. God you are so good!
