On earth that Sabbath was filled with grief, confusion, and loss for Jesus' followers. Those who loved Jesus mourned His death. And mourned the timing. Because He died so late on Friday, they had to wait until the Sabbath was over to give Him a proper burial.

For others on earth that Sabbath was filled with fear. What if His disciples stole the body? After all Jesus did say He would rise from the dead on the third day. (Funny how the Pharisees remembered what the disciples did not!) WHAT IF HE REALLY WAS THE SON OF GOD?? Did they think the guard would keep Him in the tomb? Or would they kill Him again? It's ironic that those who objected to Jesus healing on the Sabbath plotted with Pilate on the Sabbath. Did they not consider posting that guard work? Or did their desire to remain in power supersede their legalistic rules?

In hell that Sabbath must have been filled with rejoicing (or whatever its evil counterpart is). Satan thought he had won. Jesus was dead.

In Heaven, that Sabbath must have been filled with anticipation. Sunday was coming! Jesus would rise! Satan would be defeated! Death would die! Hope would shine forth! Yes, Sunday was coming!

A couple of days ago I read a familiar Bible verse and it struck me in a way it never has before. God likes to shake me up like that sometimes. I was doing my read the Bible through in a year plan. (Which I do faithfully for a few days, forget a day or three, and then play catch-up for a couple of days!) I was reading Luke 14, and when I read verse 27 I began thinking about what Jesus' followers' reaction must have been. "Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." ~Luke 14:27

We see this verse from the other side of the Cross than they did. When we hear about the Cross, we immediately think of Jesus. How He died for our sins. How we are to imitate Him. But Jesus' followers didn't know any of this. To them the cross was a painful, humiliating, shameful way for criminals to die. I'm sure NO ONE wanted to have anything to do with a cross! In researching this verse I read what The Bible Knowledge Commentary had to say: "When the Roman Empire crucified a criminal or captive, the victim was often forced to carry his cross part of the way to the crucifixion site. Carrying his cross through the heart of the city was supposed to be a tacit admission that the Roman Empire was correct in the sentence of death imposed on him, an admission that the Rome was right and he was wrong."

That is what Jesus calls us to do. To admit to ourselves and to others that Jesus is right and our flesh is wrong! To risk pain and humiliation and discomfort to follow Him! And according to Luke 9:23 we are to take up our cross daily. Daily because our flesh will reassert itself daily and needs denying daily!


So while we see in the Cross the beauty of God's redemptive plan, Jesus' disciples saw only ugliness, pain, humiliation, and shame. Yet Jesus called them to that. He calls us to that . To go somewhere that seems ugly, painful, humiliating, and (in the eyes of the world and the eyes of our flesh) shameful! I know I can only do this if I am relying on His power! In my own strength I will always choose the safe, the easy, the popular. May I choose His power to walk His way!

Father, fill me with Your power to choose Your way. Even when it is painful. Even when it is embarrassing to my flesh. Even when I can't see Your plan.

By the way it is rather difficult to write some cool God-stuff with the Veggie Tales Boyz in the Sink CD playing in the background! It's so funny I get distracted!