That Saturday
The Guard at the Tomb
62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”
65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.
I don’t know if it’s a writer thing or just a curious Jesus girl thing but I’d like to know about Saturday. We have details about “Good” Friday where Jesus was crucified. We know all about Resurrection Sunday.
So, what do you think Saturday was like?
Matthew 27:62-65 gives us a glimpse and if I close my eyes, I can picture the scene.
Want to close your eyes and journey with me?
Those that loved Jesus are devastated and confused. Those that hated him are giving shouts of celebration and recounts of key moments. Government officials are proud. They took down the biggest threat to their government with no fight from this so called king. Barabbas? The real criminal? I imagine he’s overwhelmed with ideas on what to do with his new freedom.
All of them, I can guess, are spending Saturday with one eye over their shoulder.
Haunted.
Scared.
Anxious.
Sick.
I bet they see shadows in the pique of daytime. With that, they stop everything and look. Wonder.
Pilate and his officials take tentative steps all day. When Pilate brings a chalice to his lips— I’m sure his hands are shaking. The guards around the tomb are exhausted, even though their shift just started. The mental strain of waiting on the promises will do that.
Barabbas starts dozens of plans to satisfy self but can’t complete one evil idea. He knows where he belongs and he can’t shake it. For all the open spaces and freedom he slinks in a corner, the tomb in view. He wraps his knees to his chest and rocks back and forth. The same position he had in prison.
The devil paces back and forth, anxiety quadrupling with every step. His defeated hands over his ears. His minions keep repeating what he already knows.
What about the third day?
He knows God’s Word. Oh, he twists it, but he knows. And I suspect he can’t enjoy his victory because he knows it is short lived.
Heaven is muted. A sense of grief and confusion weaves throughout the streets of gold. Something is in the works. But what?
***
We know because of Friday, God hid His usual palette of color and painted a bleak gray scene for the world to interact in that Saturday.
How about you? What do you imagine happened?
Re post from Christians Read/Revised from 2011 post
