We celebrate Easter Sunday, and we celebrate Good Friday.
But, what about Saturday?
What about the in-between moment of waiting, anticipation?
It's not the glamorous or most powerful moment when we think about the resurrection story, right? We like the anticipation and slow burn of Friday and we rejoice in the celebration of Sunday.
Saturday is the point in the story where the disciples and everyone were holding their breath, waiting to see if what Jesus had told them, before He died, was true.
Desolation.
Pause.
Silence.
Reflection.
These are just a few of the themes that stand out in the story of Jesus' resurrection.
Good Friday is filled with promise, awe and wonder. We think about what's to come.
If you're anything like me, sometimes the beginning of a dream is the fun part, right? We romanticize and hope and pray for this vision or future we want. The desires on our hearts.
There's an excitement, anticipation that comes with waiting.
Think about the prayers you've prayed over the years - For the job, the significant other, the child, the house, fill in the blank ____. You make the mood boards, save photos on Pinterest, plan out your timeline and think that's it.
Oh, that's just the beginning.
In between that initial prayer, the initial seed being planted, there's a lot of space in the middle. And, we also have to face the truth that what we've prayed for might not happen.
"The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."
Lamentations 3:25-26 (NIV)
Saturday is like the Christmas Eve of Easter.
There’s hope.
There’s tension.
There’s waiting.
But how do we hold onto faith when it feels like everything is working against us?
How do we lift our eyes when the weight of hopelessness is pulling them down?
The disciples wanted to believe. They’d seen Jesus perform miracle after miracle. But this? This was different. Their hope died on that cross.
Literally.
The Messiah—the One they trusted with everything—was gone.
They grieved.
They hid.
They prepared.
Think of a significant time in your life when a dream, or person/relationship, died.
How did you respond?
You probably felt a lot like they did. You mourned this dream, thinking ‘not yet’ means ‘never.’ You probably hid away, either assuming the worst of everyone or you've prepared for that next step. What is my plan B?
If I can't have [XYZ]…Then, I need to move on to the next to do or item on my checklist.
But, then…Sunday rolls around…The Heavens literally split open as it's revealed that Jesus is, in fact, not in the tomb and has risen, like He told them He would. He was living proof that He makes good on His promises. When Jesus says He's going to do something, believe Him.
So, what does the resurrection story mean to us?
Well, if you've accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, this is what our faith and relationship with Christ is built on.
How does it still relate to us in our own lives today?
- 🌱 It's a reminder that our faith is grown in these seasons or moments of waiting. Our seasons might last longer than three days, but the idea is the same;
- 🌧 We can trust that God IS who He says He is in the storms of life. He will do what He says He's going to do (it probably just won't look like you wanted it to or be when you thought it would be);
- 🙌 Set your eyes on Jesus. Stand firm on His foundation. Look ahead to the cross, not your boss, not your friends, not your significant other…People are fickle, we will change our minds faster than the weather app on an iPhone. HE never changes.
Not yet is our chance to fill in the gap of waiting with Christ.
Spend time in His presence.
Show up for your life and the others around you.
God's love is steadfast. He is seeking you. He is chasing after you!
He is a man of His word.
