Sunday's a Comin'

This is the last day of Lent, the day after we remember the crucifixion. It is still a somber occasion, even though we know the ultimate outcome. As we are preparing to celebrate Easter, our Jewish friends are observing Passover.

Years  ago, I heard a preacher do a sermon titled, "It's Friday, but Sunday's a Comin;" that I always think of this time of year. We hate the agony of the cross on Good Friday, but it's good that we remember it.

We need to acknowledge and consider the depth of the sacrifice made on our behalf.

But what of those that were there? Judas felt so awful for betraying Jesus that he threw the coins at the priests, and then hung himself in shame.

Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." And they said, "What is that to us? You see to it!" Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.
Matthew 27:3-5

Those guarding Jesus on the cross saw everything that happened when He died and realized that they had killed an innocent man, the Son of God.

Jesus was taken down from the cross, then placed in a borrowed tomb.  

As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.

Matthew 27:57-60

The disciples feared that they would also be killed now that Jesus was gone. They hid together, waiting to see what would happen.

The Pharisees tried to save their reputation.

The chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. "Sir," they said, "We remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.' So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first."

Matthew 27:62-64

And Pontius Pilate went to great lengths to make SURE that the tomb was secure!

Pilate said to them, "You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how." So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.

Matthew 27:65-66

Yes, it was indeed a somber and frightening time for all those that knew and loved Jesus. Those that had betrayed Him, especially the religious officials, were probably nervous. The disciples were devastated and feared for their own safety.

However, in the back of our minds, unlike those that witnessed it, we know that "Sunday's a Comin'" and that Jesus overcame death, coming back to life on the third day.

When things seem darkest, then and now, God provides and uses unseen possibilities we cannot even imagine.

from my book, "Living What We Believe"