It's Saturday, but Sunday's A-Comin'

We're here to Celebrate the Resurrection and Worship the Resurrected One!

You all know what happened on Friday.
Jesus - betrayed, arrested, tried, condemned, beaten, scourged, crucified

AND You know what happened on Sunday!!
He AROSE!  Glorified!  Victorious over Death and the Grave

BUT, what about Saturday???   "the next day?  "day after the Preparation"

Only 2 things are recorded in the Gospel accounts:
#1.  Matt. 27:62-66 - guard posted - they remembered Jesus said He would rise again.
  But, that wasn't the disciples.

#2.  Luke 23:55-56 (This is the only reference about Saturday.) - is this the women or all disciples??  The women followed Joseph of Arimethea and saw where Jesus' body was laid.
"they rested  (and observed the Sabbath)  in Obedience to the command" - this was everyone, including the disciples.

Anything else that was done on Saturday we have to assume!!  No scripture, no records.

BUT - we can safely assume some things....

#1.  They gathered - they were friends, followers, (mostly) Galileans - for the Passover  (stayed together)
Had a common bond - were virtually family, friends.  (a church)

#2.  Then grieved!
Their Hopes were shattered. - "we had hoped" - example Emmaus Road disciples
Their Hearts were broken!!  They Loved Jesus!! Spent three years with him.

#3.  They relived of reviewed!!  (remembered) - the last 3 years - miracles, crowds, teachings, etc.
                                                                       - the last couple days!! - triumphant entry, then betrayal and                                                                                                                execution

#4.  They questioned!  (a)  One another    (b)  their understanding (of Jesus' words, claims...)  GOD!!  Jews didn't see this as a lack of Faith, but affirmation of Faith!!  They believed God was the final and ultimate authority.  Example:  Psm.  22:1, Job

but also #5) They Affirmed their Faith in God.  (they kept the Sabbath!  Said their prayers!)  "in obedience to the command" (Law of Moses)

Also probably #6)  Ate a little 

#7 - slept a little

#8)  milked their cows and goats and fed sheep and chickens.  (tended to their families)

And  #9)  made some plans for Sunday - ie:  complete the burial and do Proper burial

And #10)  Asked One Another - "Now What?"  Because they had said, Matt: 16 - "You are the Christ ... the Son of the Living God.  You have the words of eternal life, and we believe and know that you are the holy One of God" - John 6

The Point of all this???
On one hand, we're making a lot of assumptions!
However, IF these assumptions are CORRECT ...
And, in light of this being a "Pre-Resurrection Saturday ..."
THEN, (1)  they didn't do so bad!! - (with their Saturday)
AND (2) WE should do BETTER!!  - because we are in a "Post Resurrection Saturday..."

Question:  What's this "POST-RESURRECTION SATURDAY??

If we use this metaphorically - as a comparison ...  then
FRIDAY = day of tragedy!!  (loss, pain, grief, disappointment)

But, SUNDAY = day of triumph!!New light, new hope, new understanding, therefore joy, expectation

In between = SATURDAY!! - not much is happening - just another day.

We all experience FRIDAYS in our life - (times of pain, failure, disappointment, etc.)

AND (as Christians) we look forward to Sunday  (when Christ makes all light and Right!!)

Meanwhile - we LIVE (mostly) IN BETWEEN THE 2 ... in SATURDAY!!

We can make some helpful observations from this!!!!

#1.  IF God was at work on that Saturday, THEN surely He's at work on THIS Saturday!!!!  (mine, yours, ours!)

Note:  is no visible evidence God was at work THAT Saturday, BUT ... it was a 3 DAY PLAN!!  - that is made very plain in the scripture.
John 5:17 - "my Father is always at work and I too am working"
Rom. 8:28 - "we Know ... IN ALL things ... God works,,,"
(coincidence?  COVID-19 coming to a peak at Easter??)

#2.  IF they ... who walked 3 years with Jesus and saw all and heard all) were confused on Saturday....

THEN us?  today?  (shouldn't we also be confused?)
On one hand, we have the Resurrection!!!  The full 3 day Picture!
However, we don't have the WHOLE picture!!!  ALL the answers!!!
(still trying to piece the puzzle together)

Deut. 29:29 - "the secret things belong to the Lord or God...
BUT the things REVEALED belong to us and our children .. forever..."

#3.  IF they remained faithful on their Saturday, without then knowledge of the Resurrection)

THEN "how much more " should WE?  today?  in light of the Resurrection???

Their Hope was GONE!! Their light was Snuffed out, yet still they did right things!! - "obeyed the command"

Isa. 50:10 - "who among you fears the Lord?  and obeys the Word of His Servant?  Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, TRUST in the name of the LORD and RELY upon His GOD!"
When you don't have any light, you keep going!!

We often say "it's Friday!  But Sunday's a comin'!"
Should also say ... it's SATURDAY!  But Sunday's a-comin'!"

We look back ... on that Friday, on our Personal Fridays
We look forward .. to the coming Sunday - when He'll make all things RIGHT!!!

And we live in SATURDAY - a day of "NOT KNOWING" but "KEEP Going"

Hey!! Brothers and sisters ... it's NOT Friday ... it's SATURDAY!!
BUT .... SUNDAY'S A-COMIN;!!

Closing Song:  "HE IS LORD" 

1. Emptied of His glory; God became a man,
to walk on earth in ridicule and shame.
A Ruler, yet a Servant; a Shepherd, yet a Lamb;
A Man of Sorrows, agony, and pain.

2. Humbled and rejected, beaten, and despised;
Upon the cross the Son of God was slain
Just like a lamb to slaughter, a sinless sacrifice;
But, by His death His loss became our gain.

3. Satan's forces crumbled like a mighty wall;
The stone that held Him in was rolled aside;
The Prince of Life in glory was lifted over all;
Now earth and haven echo with the cry.

CHORUS:

He is Lord, He is Lord!
He is risen from the dead and He is Lord!
Ev'ry knee shall bow, ev'ry tongue confess
That Jesus Christ is Lord.