Between the cross and the empty tomb, the Apostles stayed in Jerusalem. They heard the words that were spoken by their Master, Teacher, Friend, but did they truly understand what He said? I often contemplate what it would have been like to hear the words from the Lord Jesus’ mouth that are written in *Matthew 20:17 Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, 18 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, 19 and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify, and the third day He will rise again.”* For many, today is just another Saturday to prepare to have some undesired family time tomorrow, getting the baskets ready to celebrate “Easter Sunday” and putting together what is needed for a meal. Some might go to church tonight and take a moment to half-heartedly say “He has Risen” and wait for the response of “He has Risen Indeed.” And even though it is Saturday, some are looking at what the daily grind of the coming work week will look like instead of what that Silent Saturday was like for the followers of the Lord Jesus. For the disciples, they felt the absence after the crucifixion. They probably went over in their minds time and time again what just happened. I wonder if they forgot the promises that the Lord had made, or if they no longer believed the truth of all that He spoke? God had made himself heard on Friday. He tore the curtains of the temple from top to bottom, quaked the ground, opened the graves of the dead, turned the sun black, and sacrificed His only begotten Son. The world heard so much from God on Friday, but on Saturday nothing. Jesus was silent. God was silent. Saturday was silent. The day between the struggle and the promise; the question and the answer; the offered prayer and the answer to come. Saturday’s silence tormented the disciples and yet for the church today we know what’s coming tomorrow, and yet how many of us truly comprehend the meaning in the silence. Brethren, I pray that we feel the reality of this dreadful day, full of fear and doubt for the disciples, also knowing that from this side of the tomb, hope rises in and through the Lord Jesus. As we wait to celebrate the return of our Friend, our Lord and Savior, may we wait with hopeful expectation knowing that Jesus was true to His word 2000 years ago and He will be true to His word today. One closing thought, if you live your Monday through Saturday without regard for anything of God, as if He didn’t exist, without time in your Bible or fellowship with other believers, and for some, you may be only a CEO Christian, (Christmas and Easter Only), you may not want to accept the truth of what I am about to share with you,  but you must look into your own heart and see that in truth you are just a 6 ½ day practical agnostic with no hope of heaven. My prayer for all who are not walking right with God is that you repent, return, and renew your relationship with Him before it’s too late, and then be able to say with me boldly, Maranatha, Come quickly Lord Jesus. (((This devotional is in video version on YouTube at PastorDblog as well as on Tiktok at pastord.blog))) In Christ Love, douglas. HE>i. pastord.blog

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