Our Second Day
“At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.”
This past Saturday, I received multiple devotional emails about the 2nd day after Jesus’ Crucifixion and death, and the day before His resurrection. It was notable to me because I don’t think there has ever been a Holy Week where I actually thought about the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. And it’s obviously still on my mind, because here I am writing about it instead of posting my already-prepared post.
What is so intriguing to me is the lack of information or recordings regarding the day after Jesus died, and consequently, the lack of introspection we have about this day. I think we can conclude from our own experiences with death that for the disciples and the three Marys (Jesus’ Mother, Mary Magdalene, and Mary of Clopas), the day after was surreal, quiet, and mournful. I would also imagine that they were extremely exhausted given the intensity and heinous details of His death.
As I have been thinking about how Jesus’ followers probably felt, I realized that we become grounded or stuck in our own “second day.” Now clearly none of us have gone through what the people who loved Jesus did. But we all have experienced some sort of loss - through tragedy, death, losing a job, losing freedom and abilities through illness, relationships ending, and so on. And so, we have all experienced the day after - a day when we replay what happened, when the emotions we held in the prior day come out, when we can’t even think about what tomorrow will bring. After particularly difficult incidents, we wonder if we will be able to continue moving forward.
Our second days can last anywhere from a moment to many years, and during that time our hope and faith can waver, we may come to acceptance, frequently get angry, attempt to make personal goals and changes, and so much more. Sometimes, we become comfortable with the dysfunction of the second day and end up living with no peace, little happiness, and minimal hope. And if we’re not careful, we will be so focused on what happened on our “Good Friday” and how it affected us, that we will miss our “Resurrection Sunday.”
Despite whatever has happened to you, there is a new and better chapter still ahead; it does not have to be the end of your story. Losing a loved one does not mean that your life will no longer have meaning or substance. The loss of friendship, relationship, or employment doesn’t mean you will not be happy again. Getting diagnosed with a chronic illness does not mean that you will never have peace again.
There is always hope and joy at the end of whatever situation we are facing, but we will have to shift in order to see and ask for it. Before His death, Jesus told His disciples “You have sorrow now, but I will see you again and then you will rejoice; and no one can rob you of that joy. At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything, for you can go directly to the Father and ask him, and he will give you what you ask for because you use my name. You haven’t tried this before, but begin now. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and your cup of joy will overflow. (John 16:22-24, TLB)
Imagine if the disciples were so immersed in their grief and what happened on the cross that they absolutely refused to believe it was Jesus who re-appeared to them. Even Thomas, in his intense doubt, had the sense to reassess what he was thinking. They all had a choice in whether or not to believe. In fact, it probably would have been easier - and a lot safer - for them to just end the story of Jesus at His death. We also have a choice in believing whether or not our lives will move on to the third day, and it’s also true that it may be easier to just stay on our second day. But that is not what God wants for us; Jesus overcame the world so that we can have peace and joy.
“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]”
It’s important to remember, too, that although Jesus had already explained what would happen to Him, the disciples were still unaware of what exactly was happening in the moment of His death. It wasn’t until He reappeared and gave the Great Commission - and even into Pentecost - until everything finally started to make some sense. And we, too, have moments that we can look back on and see God’s plan in its entirety, how everything - even the most painful parts - had to happen exactly the way they did. So in moving forward, we can be confident that God is working everything out for our good.
If you read the Scriptures about Holy Week - from Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday, there are lessons to be learned in each day. But Resurrection Sunday is what gives substance and meaning to the six prior days. Without the Resurrection, it is merely just the story of a prophet who was unfairly tried and crucified next to some criminals. In the same light, our own testimonies remain only stories until we have the hope and joy of our third days to share as good news to others.