Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday are all significant days during Holy Week. Each day represents something incredible surrounding the events of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Each day also seems trigger some sort of emotional response inside each and every one of us.
As I shared on this week’s Untorn® podcast, it’s amazing to watch the mob-mentality swing from one end of the spectrum to the other in their response to Jesus. On Palm Sunday the crowds were crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” (John 12:13) Later on that same crowd shouted, “Cruicify him! Cruicify him!” (Luke 23:21) Our responses, our reactions tend to come from our expectations and our experiences. These two seem to filter into how we express ourselves and our hearts.
Christ died on Good Friday and rose on Resurrection Sunday. Feelings of remorse and loss from family and loved ones on Friday to joyful abundance and happiness on Sunday. What about Saturday? What was the feeling on this “in-between” day from the disciples, Jesus’ loved ones, His mother, His friends? What was the feeling from the threatened Pharisees and Sadducees? What was the feeling from Pontius Pilate, the Roman leaders? There are so many perspectives that we could delve into and ideas that we could suggest.
On one hand, there must have been a feeling of accomplishment and victory by those that opposed Jesus and felt threatened by Him. On the other hand, there were others that felt regret and remorse having abandoned, denied, or even betrayed Jesus. Maybe there was hope, anticipation, even a sliver of it desiring that Jesus would overcome and He would come back! Perhaps there were some that did feel victorious that had a little doubt and truly wondered if this was the last they would see of Jesus.
God’s momentum isn’t finished doing its thing, including on this unnamed day of Holy Week. God moves during the “In-Between Saturdays” whether this day is a monumental occasion for you or just another mundane day of the week. Death doesn’t end the story and the sacrifice of Jesus, neither does the day of Saturday. Sunday is coming! We need to have the anticipation and the hope of God, even when it doesn’t seem that anything is happening in our world. God is not done yet!
I don’t know where you are at in life, but not every day is going to be be monumental and incredibly dynamic. As you are forced to wait and as you continue on your journey, see Jesus move in your life in the every day moments. Who knows?! You might be pleasantly surprised by what He does and the newness of life that He produces inside of you!
Much Love, Jay
By the way… Happy Easter! Happy Holy Week! Happy Resurrection Sunday!
So glad we have a God who works on Saturdays, too! Happy Easter, my friend!