Originally posted on April 3, 2015 - update at the bottom.
Today is Good Friday. The day that Jesus was crucified.
Imagine the craziness of that day. Since the night before, when Jesus was taken away, His followers were probably trying to find out what was going on while frantically trying to keep from being taken themselves. They were human, after all, and I expect that their self-preservation tendencies were pretty darn strong that day. Through what passed for a trial, the whipping, the march to Golgotha, the night prior and the early part of the day were packed with crowds, shouting, pain, and terror. Then, all of a sudden, it was over.
So what did their Saturday look like? We talk about Good Friday, and we talk about Easter, but what about Saturday? The furor had died down, but it was the Sabbath so nothing could be done. And the disciples’ hopes and dreams had to have been shattered. They had followed the one who they were sure was the Messiah. The one who many expected to be the king to finally defeat the Romans and take back the lands that the Lord gave their ancestors. But instead, he died. False prophets had come and gone, and now…was it possible that Jesus was a false prophet as well? He wasn't supposed to die. He was supposed to rise up and take over.
And now what? I imagine that they huddled together somewhere safe. Somewhere they wouldn't be found. All were grieving, all needed comfort, but who would take that role? Because all were grieving, and all needed comfort. I imagine them in small groups, talking quietly to each other about what they knew to be true, and what they questioned. I imagine there were tears – both of grief and of disappointment. There might have been arguments. But in the end they only had each other, so I imagine that by evening, they clung to each other, shared a meal, and put the question of what to do next aside for the time being. Maybe they remembered that Jesus told them to love each other, and decided that whatever lay ahead, they should at least do that.
The next day, of course, everything changed again. But oh, that Saturday. What a dark, hopeless day that must have been.
I’m struggling with how to end this post. I don’t have any wisdom to impart, I was just thinking about those poor disciples and needed to write it down. But maybe we should take a little bit of time tomorrow to say a prayer for anyone in our lives who might be experiencing pain or despair. Pray that they might have an Easter coming soon to show them that there is light after darkness.
ADDENDUM - March 29, 2024. It is Good Friday again. I attended a funeral today for a young man who died much too young. I also know of two friends who lost their mothers in the past week, and another dear lady who lost her adult daughter. I still wonder about that Saturday, but also realize that people I know and love are experiencing their own "Saturdays." As I said above, please take a minute to pray for those who are hurting. Or better yet, reach out to someone who needs to know you love them.
