Thursday was good until the evening when they arrested Jesus. And it all went downhill from there. Friday brought the crucifixion. They had been riding a high most of the week, starting with the Triumphant Entry. They must have thought Jesus was finally going to kick the Romans out and deliver the Jews from their reign, but to have it all end with Jesus dying on the cross.
Then Sunday came and changed everything. By their reactions to Jesus appearing to them, it is obvious they didn't believe He would rise again. I can't imagine the emotions they went through, from total despair on Friday, to triumph and victory on Sunday.
But what about that day in between? Saturday. I don't imagine they got much sleep the night before, and most likely spent the night in mourning and tears. Saturday had to be rough. Jesus, the man they had put so much hope in, was dead. They had nothing to look forward to.
Everyone has had a time in their lives when something bad happened. The day was terrible, and then you go to bed and try to sleep, and manage to get some. Then the next day comes, and it all comes rushing back.....
That is where the disciples were. Friday was bad. The one that had followed faithfully was dead and buried. In addition to their sorrow, they were most likely all dealing with guilt for running and not sticking by his side. Peter was feeling the agony from denying his Savior three times. This day that is called Holy Saturday wouldn't have seemed very holy to them, but dark. Very dark. Yesterday, hope died with Jesus. Tomorrow, He would rise and turn everything around, but they didn't believe that.
I've been there. I have been on the mountain top, and everything is going great, and then BAM! Things are dark, temptations heavy, God seems far away. I am in the day in between.
And unfortunately, the day can be long. It can be weeks, months, even years.
I am not sure when depression hit, but it was at least 6 years ago. I believe there was more than one factor, or at least more than one thing that made it worse. I was one of those people who used to believe Christians didn't get depressed, and thankfully I changed my mind on that long before it hit me.
If you have never dealt with it, you cannot understand it. Prayer doesn't help, trying to cheer up doesn't help. Things you love to do, hold no appeal. God seems so far away, and your prayers seem to hit the ceiling and fall back to the floor to shatter around you. It is rough, and it is dark. I wondered if "Sunday" would ever come, but it did. I may always deal with depression on some level, but it doesn't control me anymore, and I have come a long way with it.
I remember a time about 10-11 years ago that happened, ironically, on a Friday. A friend and co-worker took a knife, stuck it deep in my back, and laughed as she shattered my world. I didn't think Sunday would ever come, and I spent many sleepless nights struggling to recover from betrayal, loss, and a broken heart.
But good came out of it, though I would never go through that again for the world. The "day in between" was so hard and dark. But that day ended.
It is so easy to lose our focus in the rough times, in those days in between the bad days and good days. It can seem like what we are going through will never end, but it does. It is rarely in our time, but God's, and some things may last a lifetime, only to have Heaven be the ultimate Sunday.
When Jesus appeared to the disciples, they forgot about the day before when they had hidden in fear, and had felt so hopeless. They had hope like never before, and it totally changed them. These same disciples who ran and cowered in fear, all fearlessly preached the risen Christ, and with the exception of John, died for Jesus. I doubt that Saturday in between tragedy and triumph came to mind very often, for everything was changed and made it all worth it.
Today is Good Friday, the day Jesus died for my sins and everyone else who ever lived, or ever will live. Tomorrow is the day in between Good Friday and the Resurrection of that same Jesus. For us, it isn't a dark time, for we know what happened. Jesus arose and completed our salvation. It was the best day that ever happened.
And likewise... whatever we are going through right now will end. You may have been on the mountain, and now you're in a valley that seems so dark, deep, and unending. But just like the ultimate day in between, "this too shall come to pass" and you'll be back on the mountain again. Whether it be one literal day, or months or years, it will come to pass. And even if it doesn't seem worth it here, when we get to Heaven, it will definitely be worth it all.
Happy Easter.
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