In-Between

"When Jesus had tasted it, He said, 'It is Finished!' Then He bowed His head and gave up His spirit."
John 19:30

Talk about famous last words! Contemplating Jesus' last hours on earth produces a genuine heartache. Yet I think it is important to be willing to go there. I look forward to the celebration of Christ's resurrection on Easter Sunday. It is the climax of the most beautiful story ever told, and retold for a couple thousand years now. A true story which can lead to belief and possibly, the salvation of anyone willing to cross that spiritual line. The ultimate life-changing story.

But celebrating Easter without acknowledging Good Friday would strip our Christian faith of meaning. So on Good Friday I meditate on all that Jesus experienced in those last hours, leading to the moment when He gave up His spirit.The human ache of those whom He loved fleeing for their lives, the physically excruciating pain, the sorrow of seeing His mother's pain as she witnessed His beating, torture and crucifixion. I try to wrap my mind around the flight of 10 of the remaining disiples from his side during those last hours; the fear they felt, the deep pain of running away from their beloved teacher and Savior. It is even more difficult to understand the actions of Christ's youngest disciple, John who stayed until the end.
Scripture calls him,  " ...the one whom Jesus loved".

Following Good Friday, preceding Easter Sunday is that in-between Saturday. The hurt of Friday's contemplation is behind. Yet it is too soon for Easter Sunday's celebratory elation. I know sometimes this 
in-between day is used to do laundry, run errands, iron that Easter dress, dye those eggs, not to mention the weekly Saturday activities we all take part in.

While these necessary or chosen activities are fine, I want to take time between to acknowledge this in- between day, and the in-between feelings Christ's chosen disciples might have endured the day after his crucifixion.
Hiding from authorities, considering all they had been through with their Messiah in the time in-between meeting Him and seeing Him arrested by some soldiers.Thoughts vascillating between all the miracles they had witnessed, words their friend and Messiah had spoken to them personally and to the throngs of followers every where they travelled, and the absolute terror of seeing their Lord taken away. The confusion they must have experienced while hiding, fearing for their own lives. The guilt of having fled the One they openly swore loyalty to.

Christ's other followers must have endured their own set of feelings in-between. The desire to believe in the teacher they'd come to know as a miracle worker and Savior crushed between wondering what was going on, where those twelve guys who were always with the Christ were, and if they knew anything.

What about John and the mother Christ gave to him from the cross?  His own mother, Mary. What did they think about on that Saturday? How much more heartache did they feel having seen Jesus in that last moment before he fulfilled scripture and died.

What did all those who had witnessed Christ's arrest, trial, beating and crucifixion think about on that Saturday? Were they going about the day's work, while questioning what they had seen versus all they had heard about this Jesus prior to the events of that Friday?

And what of those who participated in some way? What were the thoughts of the soldiers tasked with arresting Christ? Or those who shouted "free Barabbas!"? Those who beat Him? Nailed him to the Cross?
The one who pierced His side with a spear?

Imagine all these people and their thoughts coexisting the day after Jesus' death. It was Sabbath day for the Jewish citizens. A day of rest would have provided a lot of time to think about all that had ocurred the day before. For those of other faiths and ethnicities it was another day of work and errands.Were the women quiet when they went to the well to gather needed water? Did they long to speak about this living water they had heard rumors of, holding back conversation out of fear? In between the days duties, did the Roman soldiers discuss Friday's events? Or the one of their number who had proclaimed, "Surely this man was innocent."
(Luke 23:47)

I challenge you, Soul Sisters, to take today and contemplate that Saturday in-between all those years ago. Feel the void that existed in hearts of followers on that day; the confusion, fear, wonder, ache.
Let us know how that goes, what you take away from thinking on In-Between.
You can share your thoughts by commenting on this post.
Blessings-
Lorilise