That Friday night, they probably didn’t sleep well (if at all). Dawn brought little relief, and for the first time in ages, they did not turn their attention to worship on the Sabbath. Instead, despair and mourning ruled their Saturday as the disciples tried in vain to make sense of the last 24 hours. How had this happened?! Why didn’t He stop it?! Were the last three years wasted? Why did we all run away?
The Pharisee’s jeers certainly still rang in their ears as Jesus’ closest friends looked for any trace of hope. Undoubtedly, more than a few vented anger at the betrayer. The question of the day was probably “now what?” Do we go back to our lives before we met Him? Did we just waste the past three years?
All of this is nothing but my speculation, but I can imagine the disciple’s confusion, if not their grief. Their leader was dead. Their cause was lost. Their Messiah was now buried in a borrowed tomb. Did any of them remember His words about rising again? Not likely. After all, when Jesus mentioned His resurrection on the way to Gethsemane, all Peter could focus on was not falling away (Mt. 26:21-33).
Jesus’ disciples believed that He was the Christ – the Messiah and Savior, but they were certainly not expecting what happened that Sunday. Even when the women came back with word of an empty tomb, the disciples were skeptical. Their loss was so real and permanent, how could resurrection be possible?
Jesus’ resurrection, however, changed everything. Hope was not only renewed, it was made complete and secure. Joy exploded even in the midst of persecution. Purpose and meaning came flooding into the lives of the disciples, and never again did they wonder about their calling. Confusion melted away as God’s redemptive plan became clear.
This week, may we do everything possible to magnify the Risen Messiah, so that all who worship with us might be changed by that empty tomb!