Looking Unto the Cross..... A devotional for day 40 of LENT Mournful Saturday, April 22 Sorry, your browser doesn't support Java(tm). A Day of Despair or a Glimmer of Hope? As I think about the next day after the crucifixion, I wonder about the state of mind of the disciples and the women. Did they go about their usual Sabbath activities? Were they all together wondering about the plans for their future? In the nineteenth chapter of John , the scriptures describe the process that Jesus went through to take care of His mother. John was given the responsibility to care for the mother of Jesus. I have to believe that John took Mary and the other faithful women to his home. The reason that I surmised that is the fact that they were all together the next morning. Perhaps the women and maybe some of the disciples spent Friday night and Saturday remembering the words of Jesus to them during His ministry. Could we listen in on what might have happened? Perhaps they quoted John 15:13, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down His life for His friends." Did they remember that Jesus told them that He had chosen them and that they should go forth and bear fruit? John 15:16. Did it occur to them that Jesus had warned them of the persecution they would face? John 5:20. Someone might have discussed the sadness that had settled over His followers before the crucifixion. Jesus had encouraged them by telling them that it was necessary for Him to go away so that the Holy Spirit could come. John 16:7-8. It is logical to think that John remembered Jesus sharing the fact that the Father loved them because they had loved Him. John 16:27. Another question I have is to wonder if someone tried to reconstruct the prayer of Jesus for His followers then and those in the future in John 17:1-26. The Sabbath was an eventful day and I can envision the women making plans to go to the tomb early the next morning. In all of their grief, hopefully they remembered a scripture from the prophet Jeremiah. " It is the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness, The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him." Lamentations 3:22-24. If we listen carefully as the women retire for sleep on this Saturday night, perhaps we can imagine them softly humming a song like we might sing: Great is Thy Faithfulness Great is Thy Faithfulness, O God my Father; There is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not; Thy compassions, they fail not. As Thou hast been Thou for ever wilt be. Chorus Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! Thomas O. Chisholm, 1923 Mildred Hamner Bigmingham, AL USA Father As I reclaim my soul, my strength, my inner spirit on days of Sabbath rest, let me bask in the knowledge that these women of the day could not have had. And yet, there is so much about tomorrow that I don't know either. Like them, don't let me succumb to the toil of the events that surround, but let me prepare my heart, my focus, my determination to accomplish the tasks of the days ahead, no matter how painful or senseless they may seem to be. Amen Suggested Daily Scripture Reading [Psalm 31:1-4, 15-16] [Lam 3:1-9, 19-24] [1 Pet 4:1-8] [John 19:38-42] Visit: 1999 Advent/Christmas Series Epiphany Series You may send e-mail comments or suggestions toYvonne Edwards. Page designed by: Yvonne Edwards Prayer by: Joe Hittle Background set provided by Moonlight-Designs Copyright © 2000 NazNet All rights reserved. International copyright secured.