Silent Saturday
The silence and beauty of a morning like this can cause one to join in the stillness and ponder. It's early on Saturday and nothing is stirring in the neighborhood. The sun has just made it above the trees and the entire sky is spotless of clouds and the brightest of blue. The streets have been vacant from the usual morning traffic. Not even the birds have been singing or communicating. It doesn't seem to be an eerie silence this morning, but rather a morning of reverence. How fitting for this Saturday morning to yield such a unique silence.
I imagine the Saturday morning in Jerusalem following the crucifixion of Jesus was similar in that of silence and beauty. The warmth of the sun and brightness of the sky was a welcomed sight following the blackness of the storm followed by nightfall on Friday. The Jewish community would be keeping the custom of honoring the fourth commandment by resting on the Sabbath. Local citizens were skeptical about filling the streets because of the chaos from the political and religious riot that took place the day before. Pilate was already awake when the sun rose staring from his balcony toward Golgotha. Though he washed his hands of the judgment placed on Jesus, he couldn't wash his mind of the images and the voice of the one who claimed to be King. In the morning silence, Pilate was reminded of Jesus remaining silent when he asked Him about the accusations being made. When Pilate would close his eyes, He saw the eyes of Jesus. Caiaphas and the other religious leaders were staring at destruction inside the temple and also remained silent. All who saw the results from flogging and crucifying Jesus, whether they were followers or not, remained silent in a reverence for one who would endure such punishment and death. The birds would even withhold their morning songs.
It is fitting and necessary for those of us who are Christ followers to take this moment and visualize our Savior in the reality of what He willingly suffered on Friday. There is a reverence on this morning for what only He could have done for us. However, we don't remember in the act of mourning. Yet, we break the silence of this morning with adoration, celebration, and praise for the result of Sunday.
I imagine the Saturday morning in Jerusalem following the crucifixion of Jesus was similar in that of silence and beauty. The warmth of the sun and brightness of the sky was a welcomed sight following the blackness of the storm followed by nightfall on Friday. The Jewish community would be keeping the custom of honoring the fourth commandment by resting on the Sabbath. Local citizens were skeptical about filling the streets because of the chaos from the political and religious riot that took place the day before. Pilate was already awake when the sun rose staring from his balcony toward Golgotha. Though he washed his hands of the judgment placed on Jesus, he couldn't wash his mind of the images and the voice of the one who claimed to be King. In the morning silence, Pilate was reminded of Jesus remaining silent when he asked Him about the accusations being made. When Pilate would close his eyes, He saw the eyes of Jesus. Caiaphas and the other religious leaders were staring at destruction inside the temple and also remained silent. All who saw the results from flogging and crucifying Jesus, whether they were followers or not, remained silent in a reverence for one who would endure such punishment and death. The birds would even withhold their morning songs.
It is fitting and necessary for those of us who are Christ followers to take this moment and visualize our Savior in the reality of what He willingly suffered on Friday. There is a reverence on this morning for what only He could have done for us. However, we don't remember in the act of mourning. Yet, we break the silence of this morning with adoration, celebration, and praise for the result of Sunday.
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