The Waiting Day
(In my daughters devotional today, we talked about how the day before Easter was a dark day)
I wonder what that Saturday sabbath was like for the disciples.
Jesus death was final and they were supposed to rest.
But how can you rest when you’re grieving?
I bet all they could do was think about how they weren’t there
They denied him
They saw his mutilated body
They watched him die.
I bet they replayed all the memories they had of the event and asked
“How did this even happen?”
The sabbath of Passover, a day to remember liberation
Was filled with grief, depression, and self loathing.
did they say the sabbath prayers with their eyes full of tears?
Did they not even try at all?
Did one of them even try to wonder if he would rise again?
Did they argue and fight?
or did they go home resigned.
Did His mother remember Gods promises?
Despite holding her baby’s body, abused and bloodied
Did Peter lash out in anger for the shame he felt?
Did John even speak?
Were they all filled with regret?
Could they eat and celebrate the end of Passover?
Like losing a loved one on Christmas Eve, is there really a way to enjoy Christmas morning?
What did the disciples do on that painful Saturday?
a day between death and resurrection.
Matthew says people rose from the grave
John remembers Lazarus’s resurrection
Did the disciples, both the men and women
Hear those cries of joy in the street
As families greeted their loved ones again?
I can only guess they did all they could.
They went to bed that evening
And waited
For their sadness to lift
For Their depression to subside
For what Sunday would bring.
The Waiting hasn’t changed for humanity in all our years.
One day we’re grieving death
But then the next day we’re celebrating resurrection
and the waiting day is what makes the celebration worth it.
It’s because of the waiting day the sadness suddenly lifts
the waiting day makes the wedding day all the more beautiful
Would his resurrection be as sweet if there was no waiting day?
So praise God for our “Waiting days”
In which we long for Gods breakthrough
For each day is a reminder
Sunday is soon.