Saturday

The agony of waiting to prepare his body for it’s final interment is excruciating. Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James, prepare the spices and ointments in silence, knowing that they must finish it before sunset. Before the Sabbath begins. And then, they must wait for one full day before they can go and anoint his body for it’s final burial. Would the pain and heartbreak of this day ever end? How could they have crucified Jesus instead of that murderer, Barabas? What was it the old prophet Isaiah had said? “…and he bare the sin of many, and made intersession for the transgressors.” So many of the people had taunted him with his own words, saying, “Ah, you that said you would destroy the temple and build it again in three days? Save yourself! Come down from the cross!” Why hadn’t he done just that? If he was the Messiah, why did he not save himself and show these doubters who he really was?

Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James, sit and wait. Doubt and despair fill their minds. But their hearts, their hearts seem to know something different and so they wait. They wait for the Sabbath to pass. They wait for Sunday to arrive. Three days. That was what he had said. He would raise the temple again in three days.

Satan and his demons are having a celebration. They have defeated Jesus! The living son of God! He is dead! They can’t wait to plan their next attack on mankind. Jesus isn’t in the way to stop them any longer.

Suddenly, over the cacophony of the celebration, a sound shakes these demons to their core. They hear the squeak of a door opening and there is suddenly this brilliant light filling the room where they are at. It is so bright, they shade their beady demon eyes with their hands to try and see what the source of this light is. Their stomachs immediately clench and a sour feeling creeps up from the deepest part of their beings. Every muscle is tense. How can this be? This is not possible! He is dead! He cannot be standing before us now! But he was standing before them. In all his heavenly glory…Jesus. “I have come for the keys!” Satan trembled in anger…how could this be? He should not be here! “No! The keys are mine! They have been mine since Eve and Adam disobeyed you in the garden! I will not give them up!” he shouted, his voice trembling. “The keys, Lucifer!” Jesus said in a voice filled with great authority and power. Shaking, Satan stumbles forward, unable to see where he is going in the brightness of Jesus. “Take them then!” he hisses. “But know that this is not the end for us. I will do battle for generation upon generation for these souls. And we will see who will win in the end!”

Jesus takes the keys from Satan, smiling. “We already know who wins, Lucifer. I do. And though you will continue to pollute the minds and hearts of people with your filth, I will continue to love them, forgive them and comfort them and win their hearts with my unconditional and unwavering love. I have given my life in place of theirs, so they will have eternity to spend with me. I am the resurrection and the life: those who believe in me, though they were dead, yet will they live. And those that live and believe in me will never die.”

Darkness falls over Jerusalem as the Sabbath comes to an end. This day has been dreary. Dark and cold. As if life it’s self has left the earth. Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James, look at one another. Tomorrow. In the morning they will go and prepare the body of Jesus. Sunday is almost here. What will happen tomorrow?


© Melissa A. Gustafson April 7, 2007