Living with a Saturday Mentality
By Scott & Patti Jones
An Easter Reflection
First Century
As we reflect on Easter, we have extensive details in the gospels about Friday – the day that our Lord was crucified for us. We also have many details about Sunday – the Resurrection. Mary and the other women finding the tomb empty. John and Peter running to the tomb to see for themselves. But what about Saturday? We have very little information at all about what happened on Saturday. Without facts, we can only speculate about what Saturday must have been like for Jesus’ disciples. John tells us that at that point the disciples did not understand the resurrection. Luke tells us they gathered together and rested on the Sabbath, but no doubt their minds were working overtime.
The disciples were stricken by grief. We know from Mark 16:10 that the disciples were mourning and weeping. Their friend, their rabbi, the one they hoped would redeem Israel was dead. They were overwhelmed with sadness at his death, even though Jesus had prepared them for it. They must have been stunned. They expected Jesus to set up His righteous Kingdom, but on Saturday it appeared that evil had won. They also were fearful. At any moment they might expect a knock on the door and find Roman soldiers or Temple guards ready to arrest them. Alone and leaderless, they also looked to the future with fear. They had invested three years of their lives and now Jesus was gone. After all the talk about the Kingdom, it must have felt like He abandoned them. This must have been confusing – doubt and disbelief were beginning to creep into their thoughts. Jesus had promised peace, but all they could imagine was tribulation.
And then there was the pervading guilt. Peter, James, and John could not even manage to stay awake with Jesus as he agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane. When Jesus faced crucifixion, all ran away, except for John and some of the women. And Peter was no doubt especially filled with shame and guilt as he thought about how he had denied the Lord three times, and about how foolish he was in cutting off the ear of the servant. John had his own thoughts, amidst the fear and grief – how was he going to care for Mary, the mother of Jesus? They probably felt like there was no hope, and yet – all that would change on Sunday morning.
Twenty-First Century
Today we know about the resurrection. Those of us that have heard Jesus’ word and believed the Father who sent Him have the indwelling Holy Spirit, and yet it can still feel like we are living on Saturday. It has been two millennia and Jesus has not yet returned to put an end to sin and death and to establish His eternal kingdom. As we wait, we may experience feelings like those of the disciples.
As we look at the world today, it can feel like evil has won: corruption in politics, the pandemic, tyranny, censorship, inflation, high taxes, energy dependence, public schools replacing parents, wars, and rumors of nuclear war. We see feckless politicians and feckless churches unwilling and unable to deal with the problems around us. We can feel fear. Like the disciples, we can feel like an unjust government is seeking to destroy us. We worry about our children – they are not safe in schools, government, or Christian. We may feel guilty. We know we should be doing more to stop the indoctrination in our public schools, but life is so busy. We grieve for our nation. The disciples thought Jesus would redeem Israel, and we thought that our Constitutional republic would safeguard our life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And what will the future bring? Tyranny? Judgement? Revival? We feel like we are powerless, and yet we have God’s word, the hope of the resurrection, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Expecting Jesus
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
(2 Timothy 1:7)
As a popular T-shirt says: “Normal isn’t coming back, but Jesus is.” As Christians, we must live fearlessly, waiting expectantly for His return. We want Him to find us busy walking in the works He has prepared for us beforehand, so that we may be found without reproach. The disciples did not understand the scriptures and did not expect the resurrection, and yet we have the hope of the resurrection. We know that Jesus rose from the dead on that first Resurrection Sunday, defeating sin and death for all time. Jesus has also given us the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who guides us into all truth. We can live in victory because Jesus has already secured our victory. So take heart, Christian. Do not fret, it leads only to evil doing but live fearlessly, confidently, expectantly, knowing that the Lord Jesus has overcome the world.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
(Hebrews 10: 23-25)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
WE NEED YOU! Would you consider partnering with us as a monthly donor to support the work of our nonprofit ministry? Or maybe a generous one-time donation?