If you had been a follower of Christ at the time of the crucifixion this day would have been silent.
There was no familiar greeting of friends, no smiles, possibly hugs and sobs and the questions – those haunting questions.
Could I have done something to stop the terrible beating and crucifixion? Are they coming for me next? I’ve spent the last three years following a man who is dead and gone? Where do I go, what do I do?
We know they weren’t prepared for the possibly of a resurrection. In fact, the women were preparing the spices which were a part of a proper burial. They had plans of going to the tomb the next morning.
These were apostles, disciples, family and friends in mourning. The day was silent!
But not so for the religious leaders who had been responsible for Jesus’ arrest, beating and crucifixion.
“The next day, the day after Jesus was killed, the head religious leaders and the proud religious law-keepers gathered together in front of Pilate. 63 They said, “Sir, we remember what that Man Who fooled people said when He was living, ‘After three days I am to rise from the dead.’ 64 Speak the word to have the grave watched for three days. Then His followers cannot come at night and take Him away and say to the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead.’ The last mistake would be worse than the first.” Matthew 27:62-64 NLV
In their fear, they sent soldiers to the tomb to seal it and guard it. At the tomb there was silence.
In hell there was a battle raging.
“When you were dead in your sins, you were not set free from the sinful things of the world. But God forgave your sins and gave you new life through Christ. 14 We had broken the Law many ways. Those sins were held against us by the Law. That Law had writings which said we were sinners. But now He has destroyed that writing by nailing it to the cross. 15 God took away the power of the leaders of this world and the powers of darkness. He showed them to the world. The battle was won over them through Christ.” Colossians 2:13-15 NLV
Christ fought to free us from the power of sin. He fought for our redemption. He defeated the powers of hell!
“The Law could not make me free from the power of sin and death. It was weak because it had to work with weak human beings. But God sent His own Son. He came to earth in a body of flesh which could be tempted to sin as we in our bodies can be. He gave Himself to take away sin. By doing that, He took away the power sin had over us.” Romans 8:3 NLV
In the silence of that day all hope seemed lost but in reality hope for the salvation of all the world was birthed.
The angels had heralded His birth. The silence reverenced His death.
Let’s take time today to be silent, not in fear, but in gratitude for our great gift of salvation.