The world waits

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“The next day, the one after Preparation Day, 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.”’”
(Matthew 27:62, 63, NIV)

Easter Saturday is a strange day. Either side are the world-changing events of Good Friday and Easter Sunday. In the middle, it would seem, nothing happens. The world waits, holding its breath to see what will happen next.

The gospels record very little about the first Easter Saturday. Matthew alone tells how the religious leaders went to Pilate to ask him to guard the tomb. They request the soldiers to stand watch, who will later be terrified by the events of the resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Their reasoning is clear: Jesus said he would rise again, and they didn’t want any rumours of such an event to get out. ‘That deceiver’ they call Jesus, thinking that Jesus’ disciples might plan a scheme to pretend Jesus had risen.

The religious leaders had at least got something right: they expected something to happen! They were biting their fingernails, worrying about what would happen on Sunday. They should have been waiting with bated breath about the joyful new life that would be revealed instead.

God’s plans often involve a bit of a pause. A wait. A break from the action. What will we do when those moments come along? Worry about what will occur? Or wait with bated breath and excited anticipation for the works of God to be revealed?

Lord Jesus, thank you that Easter Saturday led into Easter Sunday. Thank you that pauses do not mean your plans have failed. Please help me to wait patiently for you with anticipation instead of anxiety. Amen.

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