I love Easter. It, along with Christmas, is my favorite time of year. Both have special meanings and are worthy of celebration. Just this year, I had the pleasure of watching my dad channel his inner Phillip as he and twelve others reenacted the Last Supper at a Maundy Thursday Service. I was honored to narrate a Good Friday Service at my own church. And the Sunrise Service my family and I will attend on Sunday is typically my favorite worship time of the year. That’s a lot of celebrating. Thursday, Friday, Sunday. But what about Saturday? This day seems to be lost in translation when we honor this time. After all, what does it have to offer?

Thursday, we remember Jesus and His disciples breaking bread together one last time. Friday, we recall the pain and suffering Christ endured on his way to, and upon the cross. Sunday, we treasure His resurrection as He walked out of the tomb, stared death in the face, and said, “Is that all you’ve got?” But again…what about Saturday?

In my opinion, that specific Saturday in world history had to have been the most discouraging of them all. Jesus, the teacher, helper, friend, and Messiah, was gone. Everyone who had put hope in Him suddenly had nothing. He had come into the world, turned it upside down, shared God’s radical message, performed miracles beyond what anyone had ever seen, debated with politicians, counseled with wise teachers, and partied with the lowliest of sinners. He was loved by some and hated by others, but make no mistake, his presence was felt by all. And now He was gone.

Gone forever? No one was really sure. Even though He foretold what would happen to him, including coming back again, doubt crept in. Matthew 16:21 tells us, “From then on Jesus began to speak plainly to his disciples about going to Jerusalem, and what would happen to him there – that he would suffer at the hands of the Jewish leaders, that he would be killed, and that three days later he would be raised to life again.”

Did you catch that? Jesus spoke plainly. Not in parables or riddles or industry lingo that was above his disciples’ heads. He clearly told them what was about to happen to Him. Not only the unthinkable aspect of his execution, but the unimaginable facet of His return. But the disciples were still confused. And their faith wavered. Nobody knew for sure that Jesus’ return was imminent. So how dark must that Saturday have been? For the believers, the one to whom they had dedicated their lives, put their faith in, and given all their hope, was no longer with them. Perhaps He never would be again. They just didn’t know. Or they did, but still chose to doubt.

I can’t imagine a darker period in history than that time between the crucifixion and the resurrection. But when you really stop to think about it, that day is nothing more than a microcosm of the world we live in today. Look at the comparisons. Jesus is not physically with us these days, but He has promised to return. Many of us, because we can’t see His face or have a two-way conversation with Him, question His existence.

Because we face tragedy in our lives today, we sometimes choose to focus on our temporary circumstances and the not the everlasting life that is part of the package deal of knowing Jesus. Some scoff at the fact that He is actually real. Others know of Him, but since He’s out of sight, He’s out of mind. And others love Him, and though fear and doubt creep into our minds from time to time (and it happens…we’re human), we quickly revert our eyes to the cross, or better yet…the empty tomb, and are reminded that we’re just living in a very long Saturday. Sunday will assuredly come and we will see Him again. As we learn in Revelation 21:4, “He will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. All of that has gone forever.”

So take a moment to celebrate Saturday this Easter. I’m going to use it as a tool to strengthen my faith. Just like He’s done once before, He tells us that even though He’s not with us right now, we will most certainly see Him again. That’s what Easter is all about. He punched death in the mouth so that we would never have to succumb to it. Death has no sting because of what Christ endured on the cross.

There is not one place in the Bible where Jesus turns someone away. And there’s not one place in the Bible where Jesus says something and does not follow through on it. Easter is a personal time. What Jesus did, he did for each of us individually. If you’re struggling with something in your life right now, I invite you to focus less on the problem and more on our Savior. Saturday doesn’t last forever. Sunday is inevitable.

Happy Easter!