Reflections on Holy Saturday…

amicusveritae

March 30

Good Friday was yesterday; Resurrection Sunday is tomorrow. What should we Christians be doing?

On Good Friday, we commemorate the day that Jesus was crucified and buried in the tomb. It is a somber moment. Some churches have a Tenebrae service (tenebrae is from the Latin for shadows) which is conducted by candle light. If you have never experienced a Tenebrae service, I encourage you to attend one next year. Better yet, ask your pastor to conduct one.

In the past few years, I post on Holy Week a defense of the resurrection of Jesus Christ as fact. The event has been attested by secular, contemporary sources in the 1st century AD - that a man named Jesus was crucified at the instigation of the Jews. That covers the death half; in fact, every pathologist who has ever examined the Gospel accounts put to its own death the "swooning theory". Furthermore, any other naturalist explanation like the women ended up at the wrong tomb falls on its face considering how prominent the tomb was. Namely, that tomb was being guarded by a detachment of Roman soldiers. You cannot miss 16 men camped out nearby.

Last night, I was listening to various pastors at their respective Good Friday services on the local Christian radio station. One speaker said that he knows a friend who logically and almost dispassionately explored the Gospel accounts and became a Christian without any emotional experience. That speaks to the power of God and "Logos" - the Word becoming flesh.

This year, I want to explore those who actually attended the crucifixion. Based on my best guess, there could be anywhere from 50 to 100 people there. In other words, there can be no truth that Jesus's death and resurrection was just a "fable" or a good story. Not when so many people, possibly named people.

The religious rulers

The first group who definitely attended were the Jewish high priest and his entourage. That meant perhaps twenty or even thirty people. Or more. Jesus had certainly antagonized the religious elite on both the left and the right.

They really wanted the last word: "Save yourself and we will believe you." "He could save others; he can't save himself."

Hypothetically, if you were able to go back in time and interview them a year later, they will probably admit that they were there. How can they forget? Because on that day, there was a major earthquake and the Temple veil separating the Holy of Holies was ripped in half, and an unnatural darkness at 3 PM.

Yet, some of them refused to believe in Jesus. I call this group the scoffers.

There will be those in the 21st century who will all the evidence arrayed FOR Christianity will still refuse to believe. In fact, they will be openly mock Christians and by extension other religions.

The Roman execution detail

The second group at the cross were the Roman soldiers. A typical century (or maniple) was 80-120 men led by a centurion. Did a full century turn out to provide security and carry out the execution? We don't know but given how charged the situation was, Pontius Pilate was taking no chances.

Depending on how you view Pilate - an indecisive politician fearful of choosing the wrong side or an honorable Roman making the best of a bad situation and everything in between, regardless, Pilate had to do something. Sending a guard detail would be the least Pilate could do.

Again, if you could go back in time to the year 34 AD, you would not have any trouble finding a legionary who was there or knows a buddy who was there. They could also attest to the earthquake and the darkness on particular spring day.

The behavior of the Romans at the cross who played dice for Jesus's clothes and carrying out the crucifixion would be considered normal to them. Even though crucifixion was reserved for the worst of the worst, even though Rome did have capital punishment, the Romans would not blink an eye.

This group represent those in life who have never thought about ethics, right and wrong, or the truth claims of any religion. They go about their lives neither hating Christianity (and any other religion) or being for it. That is, until some adversity hits them hard in the face.

The converts

Two other men were crucified next to Jesus. After all, millions of clip art and background images show three crosses.

Unfortunately, some Bible translations use the word "robber" to describe the two other men but that word is too weak. In fact, some bank robbers have actually robbed banks with no violence. The truth is, the two men next to Jesus were violent anti-Roman insurrectionists. Think of an ancient version of Al Qaeda, ISIS, MS-13, and other prison gangs and you have a better sense of the character of those men.

... And He was numbered with the transgressors...

Isaiah 53:12 NKJV

Yet, against all odds, one of those with Jesus had a change of heart. This man had joined in the mockery earlier now realized Jesus was indeed different. For one, Jesus was silent for the most part. He did not beg for mercy or declare his innocence. He did not curse those who put them on the cross. Instead, Jesus's first saying: "Father forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." What? Forgive?

All of the sudden, this man says to his fellow criminal: "Look, we are both guilty of everything we have done. We've killed, we have lived, we have done other unspeakable things, but this man Jesus, he is innocent." Then he turns to Jesus. "Will you remember when you come into the kingdom?"

Jesus's answer: Yes. We're going together. I'll see you on the other side soon. (My paraphrase).

He was not the only one. Even the centurion at the realized that Jesus was the Son of God. In an uncredited role as a Roman centurion, you might hear John Wayne's iconic drawl.

I wonder about those reading my posts. How many have heard this story? This might be the 11th time and something stirs in your heart.

The true believers

Of all of Jesus's disciples, only one comes: John. Of all of Jesus's own family, only his mother Mary comes. All others are MIA. Who can fault them for disappearing? Of the 7 Statements from the cross, two of them are extremely personal: Jesus asked John to take his mother into his household so that his mother would be cared for. Jesus asked his mother to "behold her son," possibly meaning John should consider Mary his mother as well. How precious that Jesus's last wish was that his mother would be cared for.

I wonder about myself. Would I be brave like John and come to Golgotha? Or would I hide like the others when difficulties come? Thanks be to God that it does not depend entirely on me. We have the presence of God's Spirit - the One who encourages and gives strength so that we will have help in our time of need.

Christians in a sense perpetually live on Holy Saturday. Our sins are atoned for, but the resurrection - the final one where our bodies will be renewed - has not happened yet. We live in the now and not yet. Tomorrow is Resurrection Sunday. Let's live for that day.