Live Holy Week: Saturday
Remember a time when you suffered a great loss, a death, a job, an image of yourself? What happens when you feel the pain of loss?
It was custom to bury before the Sabbath. It was late Friday afternoon when Jesus died, the first day. At sunset, the next day would begin, not at sunrise as our days begin. Our Saturday is the Jewish Sabbath when no work is to take place. The Sabbath from Friday evening until Saturday evening would be the second day. Our Sunday, when we celebrate Easter, counts as the third day.
Joseph of Arimathea may be another device by Mark to bring to mind an Old Testament story starting in 1 Samuel 1:1. “Ramah in the hill country of Ephraim” is most likely Arimathea in Jesus’ time. A person who knew the Old Testament in Jesus’ day would immediately think of the entire story in 1 Samuel. This story in 1 Samuel begins their history of how God brought the Kingdom of David into existence, making them a nation as promised to Abraham thousands of years earlier. The story begins with tears and pleading prayers to God. Tears, pleading prayers and trust in God are what founded the Kingdom of David. The glory of victory on the battle field isn’t what makes a people come together. Trust in God and suffering service makes for a country or kingdom.
If you put two and two together this says, Jesus brings in a new Kingdom through his deep suffering, tears and prayers. His tears on the Mount of Olives, his deep prayers and his death by total trust in God is the real power that subdues enemies and brings a lasting peace and Kingdom that has no end.
At the death of Jesus, the people suffered a great loss. Everything they had hoped for was gone. They wanted a God-Warrior to save them from their enemies, a return to the good old days of King David. David was the great warrior on earth who paved the way for the Kingdom to grow. They thought Jesus would be that King when the Warrior-God destroyed their enemies. Now all of that was dashed and trampled into the ground. They were utterly shattered. Jesus is dead. The world goes on, lost in its endless cycles.
Have you suffered a recent great loss in the past year? Sometimes it comes out of the blue, sometimes it’s expected. Never does it come easy. We feel hurt, loneliness, disappointment, anger and bitterness. When this happens, all we can do is cry, plead to Go, and trust that something new will arise again.
Lord God, you know loss is a part of life. You invite us to die to ourselves so we may arise in newness with you. When the pain of loss comes, it hurts, we try to deny it, we become angry. Stay with us in our losses whether it be a job, pet, or significant person. Stay with us with Your listening ear until we come to accept the loss. Give us hope that something new will come. Amen.
Pastor Michael
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