Saturday: 03/04/2010
 
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It's Easter Saturday today. Think. Why was there a Saturday?

Friday: I get that
Sunday: I get that too.
Why was there a Saturday?

I question why God needed to allow Jesus to come to earth to go through all the 'stuff' just to die at times. I mean, why set things up so that he had to die like He did? Why not do it another way. That said, I do get the 'sacrifice thing' and therefore can (sort of) understand why Jesus needed to come to earth to die. But if He was going to do that, why not die and come back to life the same day, or the next day....or die and then (BOOM!) back to life whilst still hanging on the cross. "Now that's cool" I can hear the soldiers cry!

I digress. Why have a Saturday in the mix? As a Chruch we focus on Friday with 'Sunday coming' but we forget the 'Saturday bit' in the middle. Ever thought why. I bet you haven't. I have and here's my theory:

Imagine.... the disciples had lived with Jesus, the Son of God, seeing all that He had done and how He had lived his life. Now I admit, at times, there may have been a little doubt in some of those disciples but, at the end of the day, when you have lived with the Son of God you kinda know eh!!? (BTW, if that's true, why did they crucify Him?). Jesus has done amazing miracles, people, back from the dead etc. And then Friday comes.....

He's taken away, up on the cross and then, agonisingly, breathes his last. He's gone. Dead. The disciples see it and....confusion sets in. Was He? Did He? Could He? Dare I suggest that they might have wondered if the memories they had were true or did their minds play tricks on them? Did they just get carried away in the moment and really He wasn't??

They'd seen Jesus day after day. They knew the life He'd brought them. They saw Him move in power. Didn't they?? But now it's Easter Saturday, Jesus is not there. He's dead and all around them implodes as they consider, just for a moment, that He may not have been the Messiah they longed for all along. Doubt reigns.

But then the doubt flips back to a reality check. I know I saw Him heal, do miracles, live a life of a Messiah. I know this in every fibre of my being. So why is it all quiet and Jesus is dead? Why can't He just wisper to me it's all going to be OK? Why couldn't He just have told us there is a 'part B to this!'

We know what happened on Sunday but we forget to pause on Easter Saturday and reflect on the fact that, for many people, they live their life in an 'Easter Saturday' moment. They know wat God has done and they are not for walking away. But for now, well as they look around themselves, the reality of what was, has gone and is all but dead. The Jesus that once lived and breathed with them appears to be...Dead. He's not speaking, He's not moving. He's gone. Isn't He?

This is where I have been at for much of the past 3 years. I'm not walking. I've seen God do too much in my life. But is Jesus alive (living and breathing alongside me in the tangeble way He used to). Well no. Can I handle this doubt? Well, Easter saturday says I can.

Most will freak at this. For some of Jesus followers they will have seen Him on the cross and thought 'I knew it wasn't real' and walked away. For some of you, the minute the reality of Jesus in your life is 'dead' you'e off. Dissapointed, doubting and confused. But the mind plays tricks doesn't it? What was reality not long back can quickly fade into a 'am I sure that happened?' moment. I've had lots of those...

But this man ain't for changing. I'm hanging on in there. Watching Jesus. Looking at the cross with Him on it and waiting. Waiting for Sunday to come and for Him to stand in front of Me again in reality. For me to know it He's alive again as I knew He always was.

Until then I'm OK with coping with 'Easter Saturday's'.

Are you?
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