This was their first day to live by faith.
I imagine it was a long day following a short night of restless sleep. The horror of what had happened jolting them awake, flooding their minds with tumbling questions, tears and guilt.
This is what all the moments, the miracles, the talks, the prayers, the questions, the answers; this is what it all came down to.
Was He really who He said He was?
They have a hard time remembering all He said. They are exhausted. Still in shock. Unbelief. Grief hasn’t even set in. They can’t think straight. The violent memories don’t leave with the dawn. The praying, the angry crowd, the shouting, the jostling, the sound of the whip whistling through the air, the blood pouring down their Friend’s face. The sight of Him on the cross.
Ever been in the middle of a riot? That’s tangible anger, it puts one in a fight or flight mode, and keeps one there for a long time. That’s what they had faced for hours.
Torn between wanting to stand up for their Master, yet scared to death because their Master was being taken from them. The Promise was being beaten, the Fulfillment was being spit on, the death of the Messiah was being screamed for, the King of Kings had to carry His own death on His back before carrying out their death, our death, in His body.
The guilt. They all feel it. They had been torn between wanting to defend Him, but scared to. Peter’s attempt at defending and then angrily denying Christ is mentioned, but they were all there somewhere.
They couldn’t even stay awake long enough to pray with Him. He asked them to, they could tell He was distressed, but their human understanding hadn’t yet grasped that this was it. This was the time He had told them about. That long talk, at the Passover supper. He prayed for them. He told them the time had come. He said they would weep and lament. They listened, not fully understanding, their feet still damp from the washing He had given them. He knew they didn’t fully understand what would happen. But He knew His words would be fulfilled. And He knew how they would feel.
How does one help the Helper? How does one comfort the Comforter? How does one rescue the Rescuer?
Everything He said He was, every prophecy He fulfilled was on the line. It was the Sabbath. A lot of time for silence and reflection. Probably one of the longest days of their lives, because if He really was who He said He was, tomorrow would be proof.
But today, today they had nothing but faith. No Spirit to give comfort. No Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians to read and be encouraged by.
Nothing but His word.
They prayed and they hoped He really was who He said He was.
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