If we were in the first century and witnessed the crucifixion would we have retired home and celebrated the Passover as Jesus was taken from the cross and laid in a tomb? What would we have done for the High Sabbath that began the Feast of Unleavened Bread? Would we have prayed more fervently or less fervently? What new meaning and insight would we have from the Last Supper as we ate unleavened bread during the feast?
After the Passover and during the High Sabbath the chief priest and Pharisees met with Pilate to ensure that the tomb would be sealed for three days to make sure nobody stole the body and claimed Jesus had risen. Pilate ordered it to be done as they requested. (Matthew 27:62-66)
We also know that the women bought and prepared spices and perfumes to anoint Jesus’ body during the Day of Preparation. There was no time to do it on the Day of Preparation before Passover. So this Day of Preparation occurred after the High Sabbath for the Feast of Unleavened Bread ended and was the Day of Preparation before the weekly Sabbath. They all rested on the seventh day as God had commanded. (Matthew 27, Mark 16, Luke 23)
On the Seventh Day at sundown, the weekly Sabbath ended. At this point, Jesus would have been in the tomb a full 3 nights and 3 days just as He said in Matthew 12:40 “for just as JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF THE SEA MONSTER, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Consider if you had been his disciple, what you would be doing right now? Are you scared for your life? Are you disappointed? Are you worried? Are you trying to remember all He taught you? Are you anticipating His rising from the dead? Are you praying? If so, what are you praying for?
From the Mountain Top to the Valley
As a disciple of Jesus, in less than a week, you have gone from the pinnacle of your Master declaring his rightful ownership of the throne of David as the King of Israel, the promised Messiah; to seeing the One you had put your complete trust in crucified on a cross and buried, dead. Your confidence has likely been completely shattered. How will you ever pick up the pieces?
Sifted Like Wheat
We have so much more insight looking back than the disciples had during that difficult week. Not just Peter, but it seems that all the disciples were “sifted like wheat” (Matthew 12:33) in one sense or another.
Have you ever felt that you have been sifted like wheat? If so, how so? How are you preparing yourself today to present yourself before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords tomorrow? Are you focused and ready to hear from God? Are you prepared to be obedient to what you hear from Him? Are you ready to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth?
I am the Resurrection and the Life
Being born again is tectonic because it is supernatural. It goes against our better judgement and our fleshly experience. How can one suddenly be translated from the Kingdom of Darkness to the Kingdom of Light? How can a person, in a moment, be changed from an “enemy of God” to an adopted son of God? Faith is born out of belief in truth. Did God humble Himself and take on the form of man, born of a virgin? Did Jesus suffer and die on the cross as the perfect and acceptable Passover Lamb whose blood can release us from the bondage of sin? Did Jesus, the Son of God, rise from the dead after the third day as He said, graciously granting us eternal life? Do you believe?
Jesus said to her [Mary and to you], “I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25-26