Saturday, the Sixth Week of Lent

Holy Saturday

    In our lives today we become confused about many things.  Confusion invades all areas of our life including our faith life.  How often we hear someone question how a loving God could allow evil things to happen in our world.  We expect that He should not allow evil at all, but especially those who are His followers and who worship Him should be spared.

   The apostles were no different.  At the death of Jesus they were confused.  How could He have died; He is the Messiah?  How could He promise eternal life but lose His own life on the cross?  The words of the chief priests were most likely on the mind of the apostles as well, “He saved others; he cannot save himself.  So he is the king of Israel!  Let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him.” (Matt 27: 42)

   The twelve had lived with Jesus for over three years.  They had witnessed the miracles He had performed.  The feeding of the five thousand; the sick and lame He had cured; the lepers he had cleansed; the blind who received their sight.  They were there when He raised Lazarus from the dead.  How could He now be dead?

   They had placed their hope and faith in the eternal life Jesus had promised to those who would believe.  They did not yet understand the teaching that believing must also include picking up the cross and carrying it.  Perhaps even giving up your life for your faith.  They were expecting immediate fulfillment of all He had promised.  Instead they had witnessed His death.  How could the Messiah possibly be dead and in the tomb?

   In the months and years to come they would begin to understand, but on that sorrowful day I’m sure their belief was shaken to the core.  On that day all they had hoped for seemed to have disappeared.  Huddled together in the upper room, their faith was in question.  They feared for their own lives.  If Jesus could be arrested and killed they could be as well.  Was this the end of what they had believed was the beginning?

   When bad things happen we sometimes question our faith just as did the apostles.  Satan uses this questioning to weaken us and even to turn us from God.  No one can explain why these things happen, but we must continue to trust and believe.  Just as the Holy Spirit came to strengthen and embolden the faith of the apostles, He will come to strengthen us and help us cope with the hardships that are a part of life in a fallen, sinful world.

   Tomorrow we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord.  Though the apostles were confused and surely questioned their faith, Jesus renewed that faith by His rising from the dead.  Let us always turn to the promise of His resurrection whenever we are confused and our faith is faltering or in question.