“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” Mark 1:35 ESV
You ever notice how quiet often causes our minds to race, our anxiety to take over, our insecurities to manifest themselves in ways that can become crippling for hours, days, weeks, then simply laughed off as ‘ridiculous’ or abruptly leave when Jesus shows up or the Holy Spirit speaks. I wonder, did the disciples and followers of Jesus learn from him and retreat to quiet places to pray, seek and expect upon his death, or did they hide and cower in fear for what was to come?
“But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.” Luke 5:16 ESV
Today is Saturday. The day of silence. The Savior of the World has been killed. The small band of Believers has been scattered. They’re scared. Disillusioned. Are they being hunted? Was this all a dream…a nightmare? The man who Jesus said was the rock upon whom he would build his church had denied him 3 times in a matters of minutes. One of his chosen 12 had betrayed him for a few pieces of silver. The disciples ran and hid. Their human weakness and vulnerability has manifested itself in sin, doubt, guilt, questioning.
“Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away. With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds[a] of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth. The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before. And so, because it was the day of preparation for the Jewish Passover and since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.” John 19:38-42 NLT
So a rich man, member of the Jewish council and a “secret disciple” along with a Pharisee, member of the Sanhedrin and Believer who only met with Jesus at nighttime took the bold step to ask for, prepare and lay Jesus body in a tomb. The typical process for discarding the dead who had been crucified was to throw the bodies on a pile of existing corpses. Probably one last action of disdain and disrespect for those ruled vile enough by the leaders of the day to be killed in what was considered the most painful and degrading way possible. (As an aside, the body of thief on the cross who was now walking in paradise with his Savior, was most certainly thrown into this pile,) Joe and Nick stepped up. They loved the Son of God too much to live with the thought of his body being discarded, desecrated and abandoned,
“But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:33
We don’t know what happened in that tomb where Jesus was laid. We don’t know his thoughts. Did the angels come and minister to him as they did after his 40 days in the wilderness? Did Satan come and bow low and admit defeat, having the date outlined to him when his rule over the Earth finally ends Did a royal celebration occur that celebrated sin’s defeat for those who believed in what had and was to occur? We don’t know.
We do know that Sunday is coming. That the pathway to eternal life has been paved in blood. That everything the King of King’s’ Son said had come true. Sunday is coming. Jesus words will become manifest.
“Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and announced to the nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory.” Matthew 10:33 NLT
Here’s what I know because He has told and shown me through His history and life Book. His disciples would become apostles and take the Hope, Grace and Mercy that is Jesus, to the World. Rejected by many, embraced by some, truth to all. The Church’s rock would be Peter. Young Stephen, an early deacon of the Church would boldly lay his life down for his King. That the 11 who fled and hid, would do miraculous things because the of the example of Jesus and a faith tested and proven through Jesus death, resurrection and instructions. That these 11 and so many others would lay their lives down for the greatest good. That light beat darkness. That Grace and Mercy are freely given. That Hope came, died, rose again and surrounds each of us. That our choice is simple: acceptance or rejection of the One from whom all life flows.
Sunday is coming. Que up the celebration. It’s going to be eternal.