Easter Weekend

Easter weekend, yes I know I’m late, had to be such an extreme emotional event for those who actually lived through it. There were so many events packed into a few days they are a bit overwhelming, bit for us and way overwhelming for those who walked those days. There was the betrayal by Judas, the gardens dark hours, and then the moment when the soldiers were involved. Jesus was arrested and brutally taken for trial. The trial was held, and the administrating official understood that it was envy that had really led to this moment. It was the envy of the reaction of the people to Jesus by the Pharisees.

While I highly recommend reading the story in detail yourself, it is a time to think through. The disciples acted out their fear of being turned over as well. There were denials that they knew or followed Jesus. Then, tears of bitter hurt and anguish were shed. Then, the moment happened. “Crucify him.” The shouts of the crowd gained momentum and led to Jesus on a cross. A cross, an execution device that Roman citizens who were criminals were not subjected to, that is what the Son of God was hung up on. They stood there, they watched the mockery and heard the wailing, heard the whispered fears. Imagine the stomachs and chests that physically hurt with stress and grief. What now?

Then, Jesus died.

A tomb was given over to lay the body of Jesus in. The hope that had lived in the disciples was doused and they tried to move away from the limelight.

The next day was the Sabbath. I wonder how many of that group even slept that night, or tossed and turned at best. Getting up the next morning, bleary eyed, they would have witnessed others going on as if it were a normal Sabbath. Instead, you may have found the followers with red rimmed eyes, slumped shoulders, with grief and fatigue written on their faces. No appetite that day, I would imagine. Many signs instead were probably heard and then sobs broken out.

Perhaps angry and confused discussions took place elsewhere, among the Pharisees. He is dead – what will be done now? Post guards at the tomb to make sure that his disciples don’t try to come and steal the body – make sure that nothing disturbs that tomb. That trouble maker is gone. But, then another topic might have kept working its way in – the temple curtain was torn, top to bottom. Did you hear about that? What caused that? You don’t think that… No – of course not…

Sabbath, Saturday, might have felt it was creeping by, only to be followed by another early morning. The women went to the tomb with the idea to dress the body for burial, with herbs and ointments. Yet, when they came there, the body was not there.

He is Risen! He is Alive!