Easter Weekend

After Jesus' burial the Bible is silent on what happened in between Good Friday and Easter. We know that the disciples scattered from the garden at Jesus' arrest. Peter did show back up for a while during Jesus' trial before he denied Him three times. John was at the cross with Jesus' mother. Did they all meet up again Saturday or did they just go to their homes? They had been with Jesus for three plus years. They heard all His teachings and saw all His miracles. They were even able to do miracles themselves through Jesus' power. We wonder how they could just move on with their lives, but we have the advantage of knowing the whole story. Although they had just days before seen Lazarus raised from the dead after being in the grave for 4 days. No one had ever done that. Yes, Jesus stopped funerals and even raised the dead before the funeral, but people dead for 4 days stay dead. People dead for 1 day stay dead. And although we know the story, we would have been just as scared and skeptical. Jesus had even told them He would have to go to the cross and be raised from the dead.  But they didn't get it.

Saturday, I wonder if they tried to imagine life before Jesus had called them and if they could ever return to their fishing boats, their tax collector's table and their families. Their rabbi, who had invested His life into theirs, was gone. Now what, now where, now how, now why would they, could they, continue on with their lives. Scripture tells us that the day went dark during Jesus' crucifixion and that the sun rose as normal on Easter morning but on Saturday did creation continue to mourn the Creator's death with a dreary, miserable day? Even if the day was normal it would have seemed dark and dank to any of Jesus' followers. 

Even when they heard the news from Mary that Jesus was alive, they couldn't believe it. Even when Jesus "appeared" in the upper room, they were astonished that He was alive. Thomas wasn't there apparently the first time and got a bad rep as a doubter when he responded as any of us would have. 

'A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”' John 20:26-29. 

Good Friday would mean nothing without Easter. All other religious leaders have died or will die but only one changed history, changed time, and changes lives forever by being raised from the dead.