John 20:19 (NIV) "When the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders Jesus came and stood among them and said 'Peace be with you!'".
This is really the only indication of what we know of what that time period between Crucifixion and Resurrection was like for those that had witnessed the Crucifixion of Jesus and loved him. This year the thought of Saturday the day of Holy week that doesn't really have a name, or a "purpose". We recognize Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and obviously Resurrection Sunday. However, what about Saturday, what would we name Saturday? I think I would name it Silent Saturday and perhaps the disciples would agree with me. The commotion of the week was "over", Jesus had said "It is finished" and He died. Now what? What was all of his teachings to mean? How would He come back or conquer death? The tomb was sealed and he was laying in there. The Bible is very silent about what took place on Saturday. We know about the death and the burial, and we know what happened on the Resurrection Day; but that time in between nothing.
One thing I know from my personal life is sometimes God is silent. In the silence is where fear comes as we see with the verse from John. It is also the time when we have to draw close to those truths in which we know. I wonder what the disciples were doing in that room as they sat in fear? I can imagine they were reliving every conversation they had with Jesus. I imagine the fear was heavy on their hearts. I find myself very much in the middle of a Silent Saturday. This week has been very emotional in our house. On Wednesday evening my husband was admitted back into the hospital. Thursday led to a lot of emotions as we found out infection had entered his foot and we were facing a necessary surgery on Friday. He would either have a partial foot amputation or a below the knee amputation making him a double amputee. We didn't know for sure what the right answer was and either way it was the fourth surgery he would be having in a 6 month period. It brought us right back to where we were last fall as he battled infection in the other foot that would lead him to a below the knee amputation in October. We signed consents for both surgeries and we mauled over what would happen the following day. Then Friday came and after talking with the surgeon agreed that he would end up removing a 1/3 of his foot. I was able to attend the last few minutes of Good Friday service at my church after the surgery and people would encourage me with "Sunday's coming".
We live in hope, because we know the rest of the story. However, the disciples they didn't know the whole story. So they weren't sitting in the room saying don't worry Sunday's coming. Now I do believe they had 'hope' that what Jesus had taught them was true and he would come again. However, they didn't know what that meant. I have thought about that a lot the past 24 hours. I know that God is working all things out for our good, according to his purpose, like the Bible promises. I have the Bible to hold onto the promises, just like the disciples had all the teachings of Jesus. But what we don't have and what they didn't have was when it would be fulfilled. What exactly the details were. I know my husband and I will be okay and we will adapt. However, right now we find ourselves sitting in a hospital in fear that infection will come and he could lose his leg. So this year I have found great comfort that even Jesus had to spend a day in "the tomb" and the disciples spent the day in a room, all in silence.
My favorite part of the verse from above is how Jesus greeted them when he arrived in the room. "Peace be with you", and then gives them the Holy Spirit and sends them out, according to John 20:21-23. I am grateful to know that Sunday's coming and that this is only a temporal. I rest in the assurance that one day we will be made whole, and my husband will enter the gates of Heaven with a new complete body as he dances before our Lord on the streets of Gold. Yes sometimes you will have to go through a silent Saturday and we may want to cower in fear of what the world will do. However, we must remember we were given the Holy Spirit-the one that will never leave us. We can live in the hope of what will come. Yes it's hard, and we may not know the steps but we know the One that directs them. We have the Bible to go to for truth and I believe there is power in committing scripture to memory for those silent moments. I think there is importance in the pause, the silence between Crucifixion and Resurrection. It makes us hold onto what we know to be true and have faith that Sunday's coming.
We live in hope, because we know the rest of the story. However, the disciples they didn't know the whole story. So they weren't sitting in the room saying don't worry Sunday's coming. Now I do believe they had 'hope' that what Jesus had taught them was true and he would come again. However, they didn't know what that meant. I have thought about that a lot the past 24 hours. I know that God is working all things out for our good, according to his purpose, like the Bible promises. I have the Bible to hold onto the promises, just like the disciples had all the teachings of Jesus. But what we don't have and what they didn't have was when it would be fulfilled. What exactly the details were. I know my husband and I will be okay and we will adapt. However, right now we find ourselves sitting in a hospital in fear that infection will come and he could lose his leg. So this year I have found great comfort that even Jesus had to spend a day in "the tomb" and the disciples spent the day in a room, all in silence.
My favorite part of the verse from above is how Jesus greeted them when he arrived in the room. "Peace be with you", and then gives them the Holy Spirit and sends them out, according to John 20:21-23. I am grateful to know that Sunday's coming and that this is only a temporal. I rest in the assurance that one day we will be made whole, and my husband will enter the gates of Heaven with a new complete body as he dances before our Lord on the streets of Gold. Yes sometimes you will have to go through a silent Saturday and we may want to cower in fear of what the world will do. However, we must remember we were given the Holy Spirit-the one that will never leave us. We can live in the hope of what will come. Yes it's hard, and we may not know the steps but we know the One that directs them. We have the Bible to go to for truth and I believe there is power in committing scripture to memory for those silent moments. I think there is importance in the pause, the silence between Crucifixion and Resurrection. It makes us hold onto what we know to be true and have faith that Sunday's coming.
5 comments:
As evangelicals, we're really good at celebrating on Easter Sunday, and maybe even mourning at the cross, but we forget to hunker down in the quiet and the darkness of the Saturday tomb. Thanks for taking time to lead us in reflection here.
These are powerful thoughts! I haven't considered silent Saturday very much, but it's so true that God is working, even in these silent parts of the journey. Thanks for bringing this to the light. I pray for his hand upon your family as you continue in the journey with him.
Very important challenge, JoDee. I've never really thought about observing a "silent Saturday" just before Easter, but I feel like that's a wonderful idea. I wish I had done it this past weekend, but then silence and solitude can always be carved out, I suppose! So sorry to hear about your husband's feet. I'll be praying for you both in this. I recently fractured my left arm and am learning how much I take that arm for granted. I can't imagine having to adapt to the loss of part of a foot for the rest of my life. Lifting you guys up!
Never thought of Silent Saturday. But we all have had a silent Saturday, and were glad when Sunday came! Very good concept, we all can learn from.
Thank you everyone for the feedback as I am learning more everyday about my writing voice.
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