Perhaps only those of us who have suffered a great loss can truly appreciate the depth of hopelessness felt by the disciples on Silent Saturday. We have always known that Jesus rose from the grave. When we celebrate Good Friday it is with the knowledge that Sunday is coming.
But the disciples knew only one thing that long silent Saturday … their Master … the one in whom they had placed all their dreams and hopes was lying in a dark, cold tomb. He had been beaten and crucified, battered beyond recognition.
I wonder if any of them remembered the words of Isaiah. “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter.” [v7]
I wonder if they were consumed with guilt for having abandoned him. Did they remember the warning Jesus gave them using the words found in Zechariah 13:7: “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’” [Matt 26:31]
Or were they just numb with grief.
The disciples were locked away that first Silent Saturday out of fear of the Romans. This year, disciples are locked away out of fear of a virus. But while they didn’t realize that Sunday was coming and everything would change – we do. We won’t be locked away forever, beloved. We will once again gather as the church. Our buildings will be open.
Let’s pray, however, that when we do re-gather, we don’t just revert to that “old normal.” Let us not take for granted the privilege of opening our church doors, meeting with the Body of Christ, and going forth into the world to bring others to God’s saving grace. Amen.
