The Silence of Saturday

So, today is Saturday.  Silent Saturday, I suppose.  Why silent?  The silence of his death.


On this day 2000 years ago.....

Jesus let out his last breath, and it instantly was quiet.  Maybe not quiet as in the  noise, but a spiritual deadness kind-of quiet.  The one they thought had come to save them- to rescue them from Rome, the one they had worshipped and followed, the one they ended up abusing- he was gone.  Dead, just like that.  And now, there was quiet.  The rebellion that may have started seemed to be over, the fight was lost and Rome was still in control.  Were they just plain stupid to follow one born in a manger?  A king was never born in a manger and hung on a cross.  What about the disciples?  What are they thinking?  The same thing?  Or did this silence fulfill his truths and just leave them to ponder them all?  How is the temple torn down and rebuilt?

Just the silence of questions.


~~~
 ⁴² It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, ⁴³ Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. ⁴⁴ Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. ⁴⁵ When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. ⁴⁶ So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. ⁴⁷ Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.
~~~

Joseph was a follower of Christ, and, as described in the scriptures, waiting on the Kingdom of God.  He boldly goes up to Pilate and asks for Jesus' body.  He boldly goes up to Pilate and asks for Jesus' body.  Pilate is the governor-like person, and he goes up, not just goes up, but boldly goes up and asks for Jesus' body.  Pilate is surprised that Jesus is already dead.  I am actually kinda glad that Jesus  is already dead and not still in that horrible torture, especially since I know the end of the story :) 

The heart breaking part of this story is that Joseph, a follower of Christ, had to take down the body of his savior.  He had the hard job of taking the precious, wounded, misfigured body of Christ down from the cross.  He had to draw out the giant nails, take the body down carefully from the cross, clean it, and wrap it in white linen cloth.  This was not only a grueling task, but a task that put forth so much effort of emotions and strength  and love for his savior.  I can only say a few words to him: Wow and Thank you.  This is what a true follower of Christ looks like by doing those things that need to be done even though it may hurt you or others, and even after all those Jesus haters were after Jesus, now they may be after him.  Joseph is a true follower of Christ.  


Tomorrow seems to end our story.


But it really begins it.