It's the day after Jesus the Christ dies, Black Saturday. It's black because Jesus' followers have just witnessed the death of a Rabbi, a Son, a Half-Brother, and a Friend... The day after a lost of a loved one is always sad, and painful. But the death of Jesus the Christ is different.
The disciples were sure that this Jesus was the Messiah that all of Israel was waiting for.
The disciples were sure that this Jesus was the King who would overthrow the Roman government and set up His throne so that Israel would be the leading world power.
The disciples were sure that this Jesus was the Son of God, the Son of Man, the Son of Abraham, and the Son of David.
The disciples were sure that this Jesus was the one to bring victory, BUT He dies on Friday and now it's Saturday... a Black Saturday.
The disciples didn't know it, but they were right for believing that Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus dying on Friday has just turned their world upside down because they expected victory to come a different way.
Disappointments and doubts may come after God keeps and fulfills His word in a different way in our lives than what we had originally expected.
The disciples were expecting Jesus’ triumphal entry on a donkey to be a prelude to His triumph over King Caesar but Jesus is the one in chains before Pontius Pilate, and never even makes it to King Caesar.
The disciples were expecting victory that came via a coup d'état, but Jesus ends up on a cross.
The disciples were expecting to be at Jesus’ right and left when He was on the throne, but the only thing royal about Him now is His crown of thorns and a sign over His cross mocking Him that states "KING OF THE JEWS."
The disciples were expecting more hosannas, but “Crucify Him” soon entered the range of their hearing.
The disciples were expecting... they were expecting.... they were expecting.....
Are you following Jesus and expecting?
I can imagine the disciples on this Saturday doubting as they are on the other side of the Cross.
I think doubts and disappointments have entered into their minds and hearts after all, John the Baptist seemed to have doubted Jesus was the Messiah after John ends up in jail. After John declares “Make straight the way of the Lord”, he later ends up saying “Are you the One.” What happened? I think John was expecting God to fulfill His promises in a certain way and it didn’t happen yet. Jesus was still alive and John doubted, imagine the state of the disciples after Jesus is dead.
”Good” Friday was considered good after Jesus rose from the dead on SUNDAY. The disciples still have to live through Saturday. The disciples couldn’t imagine celebrating after they thought Jesus ”loss” by dying on the cross, BUT they could have! The conclusion based on who God says He is should have led them to say “THERE HAS TO BE MORE TO THIS.”
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” -Isaiah 55:9 ESV
If you find yourself in a Black Saturday in the different seasons of life as you follow Jesus the Christ, remember “THERE HAS TO BE MORE TO THIS” because there is! The expectations of the disciples placed God in a box. Our human thinking always does that very thing when we assume God can and must keep and fulfill HIS WORD in a certain way. And I think God often allows us to live in the Black Saturday’s we place ourselves in because of our lack of trust only for Him to show us what HE CAN DO on an “Easter” morning.
Brian Zahnd stated on Twitter, “The Crucifixion is not a defeat overturned by the Resurrection; the Crucifixion is a victory revealed by the Resurrection.“
Think about that. How many “obvious defeats” are happening in your life as you obey and follow God? They’re defeats to us, but they are mere road paths to victory for what God is accomplishing.
Victory ALWAYS looks different from God’s perspective.
Read the Battle at the Wall of Jericho in Joshua chapter 6 of the Holy Bible for an example. God operates different, and His glory and the goal of His Children being made more into the image of Jesus is ALWAYS in mind.
So, what do you do on Black Saturday? You wait on God.
“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”
Psalm 27:14 (ESV). Just before this verse David says, “Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me!” Psalm 27:7 (ESV).
The disciples thought God was silent on Black Saturday but He had already spoken, and all they needed to do was to wait, and let their heart take courage by trusting that there was more than what met their eye. We know what, better yet, WHO was coming on Sunday after their Black Saturday.
And can you find encouragement in the fact that God knows what, better yet, WHO is coming on the Sunday that comes after your Black Saturday?
Wait,
Trust,
& Take Courage.
May you find encouragement in this song by Rachel Mccutcheon entitled
“Your Ways Are Higher Than Mine”
”It's not what I prayed for It's not what I wanted It's not something I understand My circumstances seem so confusing I'm placing it all in Your hands
Your ways are higher than mine
I want mountains to move You want me to climb So I'm gonna trust Your work, Your will, and Your time Your ways are higher than mine
One day I'm sure I will look back and marvel At how You knew best all along You see from Heaven You know it's the hard times That make my face steady and strong
Your ways are higher than mine I want mountains to move You want me to climb So I'm gonna trust Your work, Your will, and Your time Your ways are higher than mine
When I start to doubt, help me believe Somewhere, so far above me
Your ways are higher than mine I want mountains to move You want me to climb So I'm gonna trust Your work, Your will, and Your time Your ways are so much higher than mine Your ways are higher than mine”