In Between

On good Friday we hear all about the brutal crucifixion of Jesus. The mockery, the pain, and the sin he took on for us. On resurrection Sunday, we get to hear about how Jesus overcame death and rose again so we can live forever.

But what about Saturday? I'm tempted to say "he is risen," but on that day between the death and resurrection of Jesus, his followers must have been in shambles. He said he'd be back. But they had just watched him die. Undoubtedly. He was dead. And no one had ever raised himself from the grave before. Our minds can't imagine the supernatural when there is no precedent. Imagine the confusion, horror, deep grief, and paralyzing fear these close friends of Jesus were experiencing. There isn't a lot in the Bible about this day in between, but let's look at Matthew 27 to get a glimpse of what Jesus' followers were up to:

As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

Matthew 27:57-61

Luke's gospel mentions what happened next:

Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

Luke 23:56

Even such immense fear and grief did not keep them from being obedient to the law. Jesus' followers stayed home and rested as it was commanded. I can't imagine having that kind of discipline. I would've been so restless. I'd want to do something to aide in the burial or continue honoring Jesus. Or maybe I would've been so scared of the teachers of the law that I'd try to run too. I imagine them all gathered in their homes, whispering in hushed tones about Jesus' life and all he said, wondering what was coming. Nothing could prepare them.

Back at the tomb, the Pharisees had not forgotten what Jesus had said,

The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

Matthew 27:62-66

The crazy part of this is that the Pharisees. Religious leaders who were legalistic about the Old Testament law were breaking the Sabbath out of fear that the disciples would try to pull a stunt! You may have heard the theory against the resurrection that says that the disciples stole the body. But this couldn't be! The Pharisees made certain of that. They posted extra guards on the tomb of Jesus so no one could get in. Furthermore, over 500 people saw Jesus after he rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:6) and eleven of the twelve apostles eventually died as martyrs for the testimony that they had seen Jesus alive again!

Today I want to remember the fear and pain the disciples were experiencing, but not without hope. Jesus rose again and we know that as a fact. Let's anticipate Easter morning with a newfound sense of gratitude, knowing that it is finished. Praise God today for His sacrifice and look with hope to our future restoration. We are in the in between right now. But he will return once again. Let's be prepared!