John didn’t know on that Friday what you and I now know. He didn’t know that Friday’s tragedy would be Sunday’s triumph. John would later confess that he “did not yet understand from the Scriptures that Jesus must rise from the dead. John 20:9
That’s why what he did on Saturday is so important.
We don’t know anything about this day; we have no passage to read, no knowledge to share. All we know is this: When Sunday came, John was still present. When Mary Magdalene came looking for him, she found him.
Jesus was dead. The Master’s body was lifeless. John’s friend and future were buried. But John had not left. Why? Was he waiting for the resurrection? No. As far as he knew, the lips were forever silent and the hands forever still. He wasn’t expecting a Sunday surprise. Then why was he here?
You’d think he would have left. Who was to say that the men who crucified Christ wouldn’t come after him? The crowds were pleased with one crucifixion; the religious leaders might have called for more. Why didn’t John get out of town?
Perhaps the answer was pragmatic; perhaps he was taking care of Jesus’ mother. Or perhaps he didn’t have anywhere else to go. Could be he didn’t have any money or energy or direction – or all of the above.
Or maybe he lingered because he loved Jesus.
To others, Jesus was a miracle worker. To others, Jesus was a master teacher. To others, Jesus was the hope of Israel. But to John, he was all of these and more. To John, Jesus was a friend.
You don’t abandon a friend, not even when that friend is dead. John stayed close to Jesus.
He had a habit of doing this. He was close to Jesus in the upper room. He was close to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was at the foot of the cross at the crucifixion, and he was a quick walk from the tomb at the burial.
Did he understand Jesus? No.
Was he glad Jesus did what he did? No.
But did he leave Jesus? No.
What about you? When you’re in John’s position, what do you do? When it’s Saturday in your life, how do you react? When you are somewhere between yesterday’s tragedy and tomorrow’s triumph, what do you do? Do you leave God’ – or do you linger near him?
John chose to linger. And because he lingered on Saturday, he was around on Sunday to see the miracle.
NOTE: The battle rages on every side and it may feel like you are going through some deep dark waters. The very foundation you are standing on is being shaken. Yet you are victorious and will emerge triumphant, being made whole because of the finished work done at the Cross of Calvary. May this poem bring
comfort and inspiration, as you go through these most difficult and trying times!
TO THE LAMB OF GOD
To love and not be loved
To be despised and rejected
By your very own.To speak truth,
And still be called a liar.To suffer pain and humiliation
To be faithful in spite of it all.To be condemned to die
Without any evidence of doing
Anything wrong.To be hung on a tree,
And stripped of everything
Except God the Father’s Love.Yes, Jesus Christ the Lamb of God
Willingly gave up His life so that you and I
Can be free to live an abundant life,
Experiencing God’s Love in the midst
Of your circumstances.Glory, Honor, and Praise to The Lamb Of God.