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The Day Between

Mart De Haan Posted by Mart DeHaan
April 7th, 2012
16 Comments » 

Today, Saturday is the day between. Yesterday had great significance to us. Tomorrow the mood will change.

That’s us. We have hindsight… and some degree of anticipation.

Try to imagine what today was like for the first followers of Jesus. What it would have been like to have all of your hopes, as well as your understanding of God die in the most humiliating and devastating way?  What confusion and despair must have overcome the friends who saw Jesus die– yesterday!

They weren’t  waiting for the first day of the week. All hope seemed gone.


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Filed in cross, Death, Jesus Christ

16 Responses to “The Day Between”

  1. SFDBWV says:
    April 7, 2012 at 6:02 am

    I have come to understand that during this day in between that Jesus descended into Sheol and there preached the Gospel to all those dead and lost souls (1 Peter 3: 19, 20) (1 Peter 4: 6) so that all men can have the choice of accepting or rejecting Christ (2 Peter 3: 9)

    Seeing that what we understand as time is only present in this realm of existence, this period of time would or could seem as an eternity in the prison which Christ visited.

    The followers of Jesus then just like the followers of Jesus now had to face the reality of the world around them, while holding on to the Words of Jesus and *believing* Him in spite of all that their eyes had seen and all the fear and confusion they felt.

    Psalms 30: 5 weeping may endure for the night but Joy comes in the morning.

    Because of that morning I can look forward to many mornings of relief and comfort and salvation and rescue, in spite of the night of weeping.

    Steve

  2. foreverblessed says:
    April 7, 2012 at 7:04 am

    Song of Songs 3:1-2,3
    -What confusion and despair must have overcome the friends who saw Jesus die– yesterday!-
    What grieve they must have had, what shattered dreams. I guess that is one of the reasons why they were very very very humble afterwards.

  3. bubbles says:
    April 7, 2012 at 8:14 am

    Imagine the great joy they had when they found out Jesus had risen. How amazing it must have been for them to completely understand the Old Testament Scriptures and they very one they spoke of was RIGHT there in person with them.

    We know how the excitement and relief at the very second when we understand a concept. Can you imagine that “Aha!” moment when the disciples fully understood all the things Jesus had taught them?

    I love how the Father has Easter coinciding with the new life of springtime, and how springtime brings hope again.

  4. remarutho says:
    April 7, 2012 at 9:30 am

    Good Morning Mart & Friends —

    It was a devastating day and the humiliation of the disciples was complete. I think particularly of Peter, who wept after he denied the Lord. The sense of never being able to make it up to Jesus must have been excruciating.

    It seems to me as I fellowship with Christians — especially Protestant Christians — we want to block out thoughts of the tomb. Holy Saturday is the tomb day. All hopes and dreams for the future are (as far as they knew) lying there inert and beginning to decay.
    We do not wish to dwell upon the pain and loss.

    If we do not walk in this shadow, the light of Easter morning is not the same. The hope that emerged on Sunday for Jesus’ followers was almost too great. They could not take it in at first. Friday and Saturday were the end of their world. In our times, we might imagine getting both a lay-off notice and an eviction letter in one day — as something like the sense of loss. Perhaps, a loved one in the ICU with a sudden, possibly fatal injury or disease. Death is certain. Hope had failed.

    Blessings,
    Maru

  5. oneg2dblu says:
    April 7, 2012 at 9:42 am

    Saturday is Day Two, of the Three Days that changed the world forever. The followers were stuck right between the two mountains of life, the one they walked with, and the one they hoped for. But this valley they were in that Saturday where there was nothing but fear and doubt. Despair brought on by the witnessing of death. In that Saturday comes fear and doubt, as we continue to live in the past seeing only the death. But, in that valley also lies the Opportunity for Faith to become a reality.
    Saturday asks, “Is He God?” As prophesied by Christ, they were told, they would all fall away. Saturday is living with them in the fallen away state, where fear and doubt play their ugly part. Only faith in Christ can get them through this valley of despair. Just like Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane when He called out, “Father, if you are willing please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Luke 22:42(NLT)
    I wonder if in their Saturday of fear and doubt that kept them in their fallen away state, if they were calling out to Him saying take this cup, would they have remained there all locked up in their fear and hiding? Just a thought…
    I pray that any of us who are suffering today in that Saturday of fear and doubt brought on by the ugly in this world, that we use our faith to call out to Him who can unlock this captivity, and only by He who is willing to strengthen us to walk with Him out of this valley and on to the heights. Don’t remain locked in your past fear and doubt, use you faith and call out! Be strengthened and released today. Gary

  6. phpatato says:
    April 7, 2012 at 10:13 am

    WOW

    I can’t imagine how they must have felt…..how it would feel to watch firsthand the murder of a dear and close Friend; an innocent loving Friend who did nothing wrong; who was in no way deserving to die. Trying to piece together why it happened; what I could have done to stop it. Feeling the ensuing ridicule and hatred, almost smothering, just because I called Him my Friend. My wanting to plead with them, to make them understand the terrible thing they did. Then feeling empty and lost, scared even, knowing I will never be able to see His gentle face, feel His loving touch or listen to His thoughtful, understanding and insightful wisdom which made my world seem calm and peaceful and secure. Wondering how I can go on, to wander about with no purpose; no drive; no hope. Clinging in sorrow with the few who felt as I did….despairing that we lost our Best Friend, wishing it was us instead of Him.

    That day in between must have been almost unbearable. I can’t even imagine really……

  7. infiniti07 says:
    April 7, 2012 at 10:15 am

    Imagine having a trusted friend and mentor who lives an exemplary life, has answers to all questions and seem able to solve all problems. This may have
    been the case as we grew up from our formative years as an innocent child, thinking and believing that our dad/mom can never be or do wrong. Even the
    best of dads/moms eventually disappoint – even if they are well intentioned, because sin is inherent in all of us. The issue is not that any one of us have a
    perfect dad/mom; the issue is that we do have a perfect Saviour and our belief in this Person assures us that He lives to guide us to a sure way of life that
    does not disappoint because He has proven that by his resurrection.

  8. fadingman says:
    April 7, 2012 at 11:11 am

    Thinking in human terms, how many of the disciples might have struggled with the thought, “Three years of my life gone, for an illusion!” …except for Jesus’ prayer for Peter (and I assume the others), “I have prayed for you, that your faith might not fail.”

  9. poohpity says:
    April 7, 2012 at 11:55 am

    Jesus loved them so much that He had warned them three times what was coming. (John 14:27-29; Mark 8:31; Mark 9:30-32; Mark:33-34) Even the Pharisees believed Him (Matt 27:63-64) while His own disciples were so grieved that they seemed to have forgotten how Jesus prepared them for this time.

    I know how that feels when you loose someone your mind just does not think, let alone put 2 and 2 together. It is like walking around in a fog and nothing seems to matter any more except that moment that you are experiencing when someone you love takes their last breathe and the thought of what will life be like with out seeing their smile again or the warmth of their embrace. It is a void that no one else can fill. Feelings of anger, sadness, loneliness, depression and emptiness overcomes your whole being.

    The One they had imagined as their long awaited redeemer was captured in death that no one ever comes out of. It is so final. All the miracles they saw with their own eyes seemed to fade in the distance. All the things He said are not being thought about just the emptiness of all they had hoped for, gone.

  10. poohpity says:
    April 7, 2012 at 11:57 am

    OOOps Mark 10:33-34

  11. poohpity says:
    April 7, 2012 at 12:11 pm

    I was also thinking they were being held to the Jewish laws of the sabbath which was from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday. They could not do anything on their day of rest not even light a candle or prepare the embalming spices because they still felt bound to those laws that no one could follow to the letter except Jesus. All day Saturday they were still bound to the old covenant.

  12. foreverblessed says:
    April 7, 2012 at 4:11 pm

    This devotion spoke to my heart, God Calling by two-listeners, April 7, (the April 6 is also beautiful, but does not fit this topic.)
    “From the death of My Body on the Cross, as from the shedding of husks in seed-life, springs that New Life which is My Gift to every man who will accept it.

    Die with Me to self — to human life, and then you will know the rapturous Joy of Easter Resurrection.

    A Risen Life so glad and free can be yours.

    Mary left home and kindred, friends, all, that Easter morning in her search for Me, and not until the “Mary” had been followed by the glad triumphant rapture of her “Rabboni” was her search over.

    So with each of you. Man speaks to you too of the buried Christ. Search until you meet Me face to face, and My tender uttering of your name awakes your glad “Rabboni.””

    Maybe we do not have to meditate on this Saturday after all, but should look for the Risen Lord, and seek His face today.
    But to think about the disciples and women, they must have been devastated 2000 years ago, all their plans gone, maybe felt as Fadingman wrote: an illusion is has been.
    On the other hand. what a good way of starting the church, thy were so out of order, everything went so different as they had thought, there was nothing else they could do, but to be together in one accord, and praying for the Holy Spirit to lead, they would not start any project until the Holy Spirit would say what and how. Imagine today, if we as churches would have that same state of mind: waiting for the Holy Spirit to lead, and if He doesn’t say anything, just wait. And seek His face.
    Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His glorious face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and Grace.

  13. davids says:
    April 7, 2012 at 5:17 pm

    Fear.

    It was not merely the murder of a loved one. They had believed that Jesus was the one that would bring glory to Israel and they were going to sit on the ruling council. They had even sought the best places at that table!

    Now the leader was killed and they were in utter fear that they were wanted men. Peter gave in to that fear by denying Christ during the trial.

    As outlaws they hid or fled, and the Gospels record that only gradually did they gain hope and strength through his appearances. John 20:29 “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

  14. SFDBWV says:
    April 8, 2012 at 5:51 am

    This morning is Easter Morning, some modern church people like to call it “resurrection morning”, but I still call it Easter.

    I was watching something the other evening concerning Christ; it may have been “Day of Discovery” in truth I don’t remember now. The thing is that someone made a comment that stuck about the Jews who now were the followers of Jesus and why they didn’t believe the women when they returned from the empty tomb.

    It appears that Jews who believed in a resurrection believed that when it came that the whole world would immediately change and be different. That the Messiah would come set on the throne in Jerusalem and conquer the Romans and all of creation would be in its proper place.

    Outwardly this did not happen Sunday morning, it was just like yesterday morning and a thousand that came before, or it appeared to be so. They could not see any recognizable difference so they doubted the fact that Jesus had arose from the grave.

    I have thought about this for a few days and have to admit, I too look for something different to be present each and every holiday that comes. Be it Easter or Christmas or even Good Friday, I am always looking for something to be different with an air of anticipation.

    When it isn’t I tuck it away and then look for it the next morning, and the next morning and the next.

    I am sorry it is not my desire to bring any down, it is just that while so many children this morning are jumping into jelly beans and hollow chocolate bunnies, and so many are dutifully attending sunrise services, I am like those early Christians men who are looking for that special morning when all of my heartaches fade away and that true and honest joy that I strain for finally occurs and real rest comes from this world.

    I certainly have not seen the risen Christ, yet all of my life I have believed it occurred and am glad it is remembered even if it has become a commercial event. I am glad people talk about it and look into it and hope that in so doing some come to know Jesus of Nazareth as their own personal Savior.

    Steve

  15. BruceC says:
    April 8, 2012 at 6:04 am

    May all my brothers and sisters have a blessed Easter day!

    And remember….Look up for our redemption draweth nigh!!

    God Bless All!!

    BruceC
    Soli Deo Gloria!

  16. poohpity says:
    April 8, 2012 at 12:09 pm

    Steve, maybe today will be different for you. I pray that you will be able to look beyond the present suffering and experience the joy of living today in the arms of our Savior. I also pray that our Lord will lift up your heart to experience the immeasurable joy of just knowing Him and knowing that all things are in His hands. You are not alone in your suffering Jesus understands what you are going through and will bring you comfort as you rest in His care. In Jesus Holy Name I pray, Amen!

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