The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. (Luke 23.55 – 24.6, ESV)

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures…But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead… (1 Corinthians 15.3, 4…20, ESV)

A friend, strong Christian, whom I love and respect, wrote this a couple of weeks ago:

Celebrating our Lenten journey to the empty cross and tomb of our Risen Lord and Savior! 

I appreciate his faith and enthusiasm, but I think he’s rushing things. We probably ought to give a bit more thought to a cross and tomb that were NOT empty. Jesus hung on the cross for hours and died. The tomb was occupied. “He descended into hell. The third day he rose…”

But this isn’t the third day, it’s the second day. How were the disciples feeling? Afraid?

Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. (John 16.31, ESV, emphasis mine)

Despondent?

They said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. (Luke 24.19 – 21, ESV, emphasis mine)

Sit with it a little while today.

PS An article in Christianity Today, Before Christ Rose, He Was Dead, reminds us of this truth while analyzing its theological and liturgical aspects. Here’s a sample from the introduction to the article:

The question of God’s presence in mortality is central to a significant, but seldom recognized, day in the church’s yearly calendar. Holy Saturday is that odd day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday during which Jesus Christ—life himself!—lay dead in a tomb…The church has had little difficulty fixing its attention on the dying of Christ, and even less difficulty on the rising of Christ, but the being dead of Christ has found relatively little expression in its theology and liturgy. Holy Saturday, however, has an integrity of its own. If the church can attune its ear to its frequency, so easily drowned out by the dominant tones of Good Friday and Easter, it may be able to hear a profound word about human living and dying between the Cross and the Resurrection.

I can’t do better than a B.C. comic by Johnny Hart, which I can’t reproduce here.

• Cave man #1: I hate the term “Good Friday.”
• Cave man #2: Why?
• Cave man #1: My Lord was hanged on a tree that day.
• Cave man #2: If YOU were going to be hanged on that day, and he volunteered to take your place, how would you feel?
• Cave man #1: Good
• Cave man #2: Have a nice day.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2.24, ESV)

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5.8, ESV)

It’s Maundy Thursday, and I don’t think I can improve on what I shared back in 2022 except to add the scripture references from John 13 – 17.

So many images from Maundy Thursday – we especially remember Jesus’ initiation of “The Lord’s Supper” or “Communion” or “The Eucharist.”

And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” (Luke 22.14 – 20, ESV)

In addition to the bread and the wine, John’s Gospel, chapters 13 – 17, records a lot that Jesus said and did that night:

• He washed the disciples’ feet. (John 13.1 – 20)
• He told them to love each other. (John 13.34, 35)
• He promised the Holy Spirit. (John 14.15 – 17, 15.26 – 27, 16.7 – 15)
• He explained the vine and the branches. (John 15.1 – 17)
• He prayed for them (and us!). (John 17)

A good night, and worth thinking about as we:

Do this in remembrance of me.

It’s now called Holy Week for Christians, but it was Passover Week for Jews. The religious leaders wanted to arrest Jesus and destroy Jesus…but not during the Passover!

It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him, for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.” (Mark 14.1, 2, ESV)

Of course, God has set up the Passover way back in Exodus 12 precisely to foreshadow Jesus’ death on the cross:

Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight. “Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. (Exodus 12.5 – 7, ESV)

It’s not hard to imagine a cross shape, is it?

The next day [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1.29, ESV)

So when did the crucifixion occur? On Passover. Jewish days started in the evening, carrying through to the next day.

And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” (Mark 14.12, ESV)

Jesus eats the Passover with the disciples, then becomes the Passover lamb, all on the fourteenth day of the month, just as it says in Exodus 12.

So much for the leaders’ desire that Jesus not be killed on Passover.

Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. (Acts 4.27, 28, NIV)

…Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. (1 Corinthians 5.7, ESV)

The religious leaders were seeking to destroy Jesus after he cleansed the temple. Then Jesus finally tells a parable that they understand!

And he began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower, and leased it to tenants and went into another country. When the season came, he sent a servant to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent to them another servant, and they struck him on the head and treated him shamefully. And he sent another, and him they killed. And so with many others: some they beat, and some they killed. He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ And they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard. What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others…” (Mark 12.1 – 9, ESV)

As I say, they finally figured out a parable with a predictable result:

And they were seeking to arrest him…for they perceived that he had told the parable against them. (Mark 12.12, ESV)

We get it! You’re talking about us! Oops. Only one thing to do: kill the messenger.

Since Mark 3, people have been trying to figure out how to destroy Jesus. The opposition intensifies, of course, during Holy Week. Look how the cleansing of the temple story ends:

And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him… (Mark 11.15 – 18, ESV)

In those days a worshiper couldn’t bring his own sacrifice or even his own money into the temple. The leaders had set up a nice profit-making operation selling sacrifices and changing money. Jesus called it a “den of robbers.” If they hadn’t been plotting against Jesus for his Sabbath violations and other perceived rule-breakings, this would have done it. Don’t mess with our money!

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (Matthew 6.24, ESV)

It’s Palm Sunday, the sixth Sunday of Lent, and the beginning of Holy Week, where many of the same people that lauded him on Sunday called for his crucifixion on Friday.

And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” (Mark 11.7 – 10, ESV)

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. (Mark 15.11 – 15, ESV)

I quoted from The Ignatian Workout for Lent: 40 days of Prayer, Reflection, and Action by Tim Muldoon when I published Water to Wine? on March 26. Tim has excellent observations in Exercise 21, Triumphal Entry, about the fickleness of crowds:

One day, crowds gather and welcome a celebrity into their midst. Another day, they watch him get tortured and killed. What is going on here?

Jesus is completely unconcerned with the adulation of the crowds, in this situation and others. Like any modern story of the celebrity who is lionized one day and vilified the next, this one points to the unreliability of public opinion as a barometer of divine favor. The “voice of the people” may sometimes be the voice of God, but if so, it’s coincidence.

God often directs his servants to expose personal and social sins: biblical figures such as Noah, Moses, the prophets, Jesus, Paul, and the disciples; saints such as Augustine, Francis of Assisi…latter-day figures such as Martin Luther King Jr.,…Mother Teresa….

We who have fragile egos so often act in light of what we perceive to be the voice of the people. It is very difficult to hold truths that are frowned upon by those around us, especially difficult moral or political issues that are constantly in the news. Jesus’ example here shows us that the right action is never based on looking around us at what others think; it is always about obeying God’s commands. – Tim Muldoon, The Ignatian Workout for Lent

“It’s about obeying God’s commands.” What commands? Here’s where it gets dicey. He reminds us…

We practice discernment of God’s commands by remaining close to Christ and Christ’s Body, the church. In doing so, we place ourselves with the poor, the suffering, the forgotten, the abused, and the hated: God’s beloved creatures whom others have forgotten. We choose to see humanity where others see problems: the child starving on the streets or growing in her destitute mother’s womb; the young prostitute whose daily bread comes from the grasping hands of sex tourists; the foster child shuttled from home to home; the elderly person in need of health care. Seeing Jesus in those people, we ask three simple questions:

• What have I done for Jesus?
• What am I doing for Jesus?
• What will I do for Jesus? – Tim Muldoon, The Ignatian Workout for Lent

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” Then the righteous will answer him, saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?” And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25.35 – 40, ESV)

Did you ever consider the Feeding of the 5,000 from the disciples’ point of view? Jesus had sent them out on a mission trip (see Mark 6.7 – 13).

The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. (Mark 6.30 – 32, ESV)

And they had done a lot:

So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them. (Mark 6.12, 13, ESV)

So a retreat would be great! “A desolate place and rest.” Sounds great! Oops:

Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” (Mark 6.33 – 36, ESV)

Send them away, indeed! Where is our rest? Where is our quiet place? Forget it:

But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” (Mark 6.37, ESV)

So instead of rest, the disciples get to be:

• Ushers

For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” And they did so, and had them all sit down. (Luke 9.14, 15, ESV)

• Waiters

And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. (Mark 6.41, ESV)

• Busboys

And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. (Mark 6.43, ESV)

Now it’s back in the boat and go back to where we were.

Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. (Mark 6.45, ESV)

Sometimes, maybe most of the time, ministry isn’t easy:

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. (2 Corinthians 1.8, ESV)

Many of us have heard of the “Proverbs 31 Woman” (see Proverbs 31.10 – 31).

Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies…Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates. (Proverbs 31.10…30, 31, NKJV)

It’s good stuff, and there are books and sermons galore. HOWEVER, I’ve not heard one sermon about the Job 31 man. I don’t know why. It’s an expansion of what we saw from Job 29: what does a righteous man look like? The entire chapter is worth reading. Here’s a brief summary.

• No lust (verses 1 – 4)

I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman. (Job 31.1, NIV)

And Job’s rationale is that God is watching:

Does He not see my ways, And count all my steps? (Job 31.4, NKJV)

• No lying (verses 5 – 8)
• No adultery (verses 9 – 12)
• Proper treatment of servants (verses 13 – 15) Again, the rationale is that he’s under God’s authority:

What then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him? Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb? (Job 31.14, 15, ESV)

Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him. (Ephesians 6.9, ESV)

• Care for the poor, the widow, the fatherless (verses 16 – 23)

If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, Or any poor man without covering… (Job 31.19, NKJV)

If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? (James 2.15, 16, NKJV)

But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? (1 John 3.17, NKJV)

• No worship of wealth (verses 24, 25)

If I have made gold my hope, Or said to fine gold, “You are my confidence”; If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my hand had gained much… (Job 31.24, 25, NKJV)

• No worship of creation rather than the Creator (verses 26 – 28)
• No joy at enemy’s destruction (verses 29 – 31)
• Hospitality (verse 32)

But no sojourner had to lodge in the street, For I have opened my doors to the traveler. (Job 31.32, NKJV)

• No hiding transgressions like Adam did (verses 33 – 37)
• Care of the land (verses 38 – 40)

If my land cries out against me, And its furrows weep together; If I have eaten its fruit without money, Or caused its owners to lose their lives; Then let thistles grow instead of wheat, And weeds instead of barley. (Job 31.38 – 40, NKJV)

It’s a good list. 11 characteristics by my count, and, remarkably, none has anything to do with religious activity or the spiritual disciplines. How do I stack up?

And remember, God himself assessed Job:

Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” (Job 1.8, NKJV)