Lynn Stoneking

SATURDAY.
What happens on Saturday?

Have you ever sat in a Saturday? I've sat in a few... for myself, and with loved ones.

I'm referring to Easter Saturday. Those who loved the crucified Jesus had to remove his body off the cross to be placed in a tomb by Friday evening because that's when the Jewish Sabbath started - Friday pm-Saturday. Saturday = rest; no intentional work with your body. Luke 22:56 mentions, 'The women (who had prepared the burial spices) rested quietly on the Sabbath, as commanded.' Authors Matthew, Mark, and Luke don't even mention anything about Saturday except, 'After the Sabbath, on the first day of the week....', and they skip into Sunday.

SO WHAT. HAPPENED. SATURDAY??!!!
(Don't we all want to know?! Or maybe that's just me.)

Personally, I've come to understand that Saturday is a really hard day, especially after the loss of a loved one here on Earth. To 'sit in it' can be mind-maddening with grief and heartbreak. Surrounding Jesus' circumstances, I imagine there was still Anger and Tension and Fear within the community of Christ's followers vs. the Romans officials, High Priests, the community who called to 'Crucify Him!' - though The Christ was dead; no longer a threat, right?....

And yet -
I have realized that GOD WAS WORKING - ON SATURDAY.

God's plan never laid idol.
He had prepared for years in advance what was going to happen - before we all knew it! Now - the finality of His plan just needed a Saturday to unfold - while they all waited.

'Sitting in the Saturday' is what you and I make it, friends.
When we're in the midst of our grief and pain, it can be hard to look past that. We know what they did not know 2,000 years ago - that there was Hope. Hope had already come to them in this man named Jesus - who looked as if He was going to be the Jewish Messiah they were all waiting for! And then - he didn't even defend himself against the Roman guards or High Priests, like He could have! He just - let them kill him! What kind of a king is that?! Riding on a donkey? Touching the untouchable? Loving the unloveable? Proclaiming himself King - with no weapon to speak-of to defend himself?

But - HE WAS A DIFFERENT 'KING'.
It was a different plan.
It was GOD'S plan.

It was easier after my dad left this Earth for Heaven 4.5 yrs ago - to see that God had been working through him for 69 years and using Gene's life to share about the Love of Jesus with whomever he met. My world still stopped in dad's last days, as we grieved and celebrated in the same breath.

I admit - it's been harder in the past 3.5 years to understand my 'Saturday' after our daughter baby Faith's journey and passing from this Earth. Our world stopped for the 14 weeks after we found out that she would not live outside of me. Her journey didn't make sense to me.

WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE IN THIS, GOD???

I've come to understand - and hold onto - the promise that God is working! He's in every 'Saturday' that you will ever experience. His plan for your life is unfolding each moment of each day. And it is for Good! Not the 'feeling' of good, but the good that is HIS power, and HIS glory, and HIS majesty! And every reason we have to praise and celebrate who Jesus Christ is to us!

Christ's death brought a Stop to the Earth.
Maybe some didn't even care. It was just another day, another crucifixion; another arrogant blasphemer put to a death he deserved.

But to GOD... it was another day in His perfect plan to unfold....

Be hopeful today, friends, through your grief and pain;
God is working - on the Sabbath!
It's okay to sit and wait in your Saturday.