Waiting in Silence

“The next day, on the Sabbath, the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. They told him, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’ So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.” Pilate replied, “Take guards and secure it the best you can.” So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it.” – Matthew 27:62-66

The Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday was a day of waiting and reflection for Jesus’ supporters following His execution. They were dealing with a new reality. After the shock of the death of Jesus they had to begin living with “what next.” 

Put yourself in the shoes of one of the first disciples on that Saturday—Peter, John, or Mary or Martha. Can you imagine their reaction to the cross? Their sense of loss at Jesus’ death, their sense of uncertainty, or feel the unknown that lay before them.

As followers of Jesus, we too live, from time to time, on Saturday. We experience the stark pain of Good Friday, and the jubilation of Easter, but we also have those times of uncertainty, wondering what is next. It is the valley of grief and uncertainty, for us and for Jesus’ first disciples. On those days, we don’t know what the future will bring. We don’t know if the cancer can be cured or if we will love again or find the job that we need. Saturdays are those days when we live with an uncertain future.

The difference between us and the first followers of Jesus is we know how Saturday ultimately plays out. We know that there’s a happy ending; Christ is risen. We know the good news. We know that Sunday is on the way. This luxury wasn’t available to Jesus’ first followers. All they had was the hope that somehow their Savior would live on in their hearts and imaginations.

Life is often a time of Saturdays with no resurrection in sight. But because of the resurrection, we can experience God’s Spirit in the darkest of days. 

Discussion Questions:

1. How do you view the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter?
2. Someone has noted that worry is looking into your future and not seeing God there for you. Agree or disagree and why?