The Biggest Party on the Longest Day in Human History – Silent Saturday

The Biggest Party on the Longest Day in Human History. As I thought about today, this title grabbed my attention.

First, the longest day in human history.

What day would you choose? Over the thousands of years of human history, there have been many long days. Individually of course, each one of us could describe days that seem the longest for sure. I know I have some that I would never want to relive again.

As a society, as a race, for mankind, I would suggest that the longest day in human history was the Saturday before Resurrection Sunday.

Consider the events…

Palm Sunday Was Just Last Sunday

Just six days ago was Palm Sunday. Thousands of people. As a chorus they all shouted together “Hosanna! Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel!” (John 12:13). Not just one but thousands.

No one knew what was next, yet everyone had a sense that the prophesies were true and Jesus as the Messiah would rid them of Rome by setting up His own kingdom. They were so ready.

As His disciples and so many friends with them for Passover from Galilee, they were as excited as the rest. This seemingly is what they were waiting for as they had walked with Jesus for so long. 

But the Week Proved Sooooo Different

Jesus’ arrest. The unfair trial. Pilot the unjust Roman. They beat Jesus. He hung there so mercilessly. Ridicule. Laughter. The smugness of the religious crowd was just sickening.

Jesus is gone.

Dead.

Everyone saw the soldier pierce His side (John 19:34). The cross worked (John 19:30).

Jesus is gone!

Joseph gathered the body and prepared it for burial. They carried His dead body to the tomb (John 19:38-42).

The ladies watched them put Jesus in the grave.

The Questions and Thoughts

“How?”

“How did this happen? Just how?”

“This does not seem possible.”

“Just last week I remember eating beside him and laying my head upon his chest as he talked.”

“Our plans were so great! I had so many questions I still wanted to ask him.”

“Devastated. That’s the only word I can think of to explain this. I just don’t understand.”

“How did God let this happen?”

“What do we do now?”

In Luke 24 there is a story of two followers of Jesus walking on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). In this story, they describe their dismay at all that had happened. It just seems surreal. Indescribable.

“In all reality, how did this just happen to the Messiah?”

“What in the world are we supposed to do now?”

 

Hope Is Gone.

On the Saturday before the Resurrection, hope is gone.

… Jesus is dead.

… the disciples mourn.

… the Romans are still in charge.

… all expectations crushed.

… there is no light at the end of the tunnel.

Second, the biggest party on the longest day in human history

As I contemplated this Silent Saturday, my mind also drifted to the biggest party. Jesus is dead. His physical body laid in a tomb in Jerusalem. The disciples, the women, and all of Jesus’ other followers observed the Passover Sabbath and were in homes mourning. The Pharisees, Sadducees, religious leaders, and others nervously waited the day out. They sought an end to the Jesus story so badly – even going so far as to have Pilate instruct guards to seal the tomb and guard it (Matthew 27:62-66).

So, what about this biggest party?

In Ephesians 4, Paul writes, “(Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)” (Eph 4:9-10).

What happened when Jesus died on the cross? He died. His body lifeless. They carried his limp body, every pound of it, to the grave. He was wrapped in graveclothes by Joseph of Arimathea, also Nicodemus brought about 100 pounds of a mixture of myrrh and aloes for His burial. They laid his beaten, bruised, broken, cold body in the tomb.

However, Jesus’ human soul, like all Old Testament saints, went to the place of the dead, sometimes known as Abraham’s Bosom or Paradise. This is the part of Hades where the righteous went upon death. You could call it the righteous compartment. Jesus spoke of this when He told the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). As the only perfect righteous person who had ever lived, Jesus went to be with those who waited there for heaven and eternity.

What happened there? The biggest party on the longest day in human history.

Jesus proclaimed His victory over death and Satan to all who were there. He explained the mystery of the Gospel, the future that awaited, and the resurrection that awaited. He told them, no doubt, of heaven, eternity, and, for the first time ever, they began to get the full story.

All these faithful individuals of the ages were meeting Jesus. On the Mount of Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah had already met Him. However, now everyone. Imagine the awe, the excitement, and the wonder as they worshipped Jesus there. For the first time, everything written in the Old Testament now made sense about the Messiah. Their faith ended in sight.

Talk about a party! This had to be nothing less than just incredible. In human words, indescribable.

What do we do today?

Let me encourage you to meditate a while today on the significance and darkness of this moment as you prepare yourself for Easter Sunday. Take a moment to put yourself there in Jerusalem. Since you know the greater story of why Jesus died, reflect on that in worship as well. The whole world waited to see what was next on this Silent Saturday. However, not Jesus and the Old Testament saints of course, but no one could see them. The party had just begun. All that awaited was the resurrection – Jesus and the righteous dead knew it. The next morning the whole world would be let in on the secret.

 

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As part of your Easter plans, I invite you to attend our Easter service at Sonrise in Ozark, Missouri if you are in the area. You are welcome to watch online as well on Facebook. We would love to have you worship Jesus Christ with us this Resurrection Sunday.