The Sabbath’s Shadow / Waiting, Resting, and Remembering

The Sabbath’s Shadow / Waiting, Resting, and Remembering
Easter Vigil. 2019
Dear Friends in Christ,
In this Lenten season, we have been studying and thinking our way through what it means to live full time in the shadow of the cross.  We have considered the shadow of shame, the shadow of doubt, the shadow of sadness, the shadow of fear, and last Wednesday, the shadow of death itself.  On Good Friday we focused on the darkness that covered the entire world for three hours starting at high noon, tomorrow we fix our eyes on “The Unshadowed Victory,” and tonight, our theme is “The Sabbath’s Shadow.”  Three brief meditations as we think about Jesus as well as our loved ones who have died, who are resting from their labors, and who are waiting for the final resurrection.  Three meditations, the first on the subject of waiting, the second focused on resting, and the third on remembering. 
 
Tonight, first of all, we think about waiting - Psalm 126: 5-6 – Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!  He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

• The context of this Psalm is that the nation of Israel was in the process of returning from exile in Babylon, there was still a struggle, there was a lot of hard work to do in terms of rebuilding their nation, rebuilding the city of Jerusalem, rebuilding their temple. These Israelites would have to be in it for the long haul, they will need to do a lot of waiting, there would be all kinds of blood, all kinds of sweat, all kinds of tears.
• King David compares that with the struggle of farmers who work hard to plant their seeds into the ground, and the point of comparison is that the joys of the harvest are a long way off.  Planting the seeds is just the start, there will still be a struggle, there will be a lot of hard work to do,  farmers would have to be in it for the long haul, they will need to do a lot of waiting, there would be all kinds of blood, all kinds of sweat, all kinds of tears.
• So also for Jesus, as he lay in the tomb, there already had been a struggle to end all struggles, there had already been all kinds of blood, sweat, and tears.  And now his disciples and his mom and the other women who loved him so much would simply have to wait.
• So also for us who are gathered here tonight.  All of us have watched loved ones die, all of us have had to plant family members into the ground, all of us would learn one more time tonight the importance of patience as we await what the Bible calls the final harvest.  (Story of burying our little grandson Gabriel, who lived one hour here on earth, whose soul is in the presence of Christ, whose picture is in my Bible and in my heart, and whose body will be raised to life, this is as sure as the suffering, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• Lesson #1 tonight is from the farmers and it is to be patient.  James writes, “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord.  See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.  You also, be patient.

 
Secondly, tonight, we think about resting - Revelation 14: 12-13 – Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.  And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this; Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.  Blessed indeed, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them.”

• Story of one young lady in our local convenience store this morning at 7:15.  I walk in see her holding a mountain dew in one hand, and she lays her head down on the counter and says to her co worker, “I just want to sleep.”
• Story of Taylor, a young man I see at Release Class many Wednesday mornings. I always ask him how he is.  He almost always answers, “tired.  I just want to sleep.”
• Now since I’m a morning person and I almost always have several cups of strong coffee in me, I more often not respond, “It’s the best time of the day!  You can sleep when you’re dead.”  Which is true. We often speak of cemeteries as the final resting place.   Jesus talks about believers who have died and says they are resting from their labors. And until that day comes, our call is to endure.  We all know that life is short and full of trouble.  Some of us have a list of troubles a mile long, and others have a list that is shorter, but all of us would do well to hear Jesus calling on us tonight to endure, to hang in there, knowing that in Christ, there is a way through every one of our predicaments, there is a way through every bit of trouble whether it is self inflicted or through no fault of our own, there is a way through all trials and all tribulations, without exception.   His name is Jesus.
• Lesson #2 tonight is about resting, and it comes from friends and family members who have gone through hell on earth and lived to tell about it.  Those we know who have persevered through horrible chapters of life and came out on the other side stronger and more impressive than ever.  Their secret?  They have learned to first of all in every one of their days to rest in the grace and the strength and the promises of their God, and to go from there.

 
Third, tonight, we think about remembering; Psalm 16:5-8 – The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.  The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed I have a beautiful inheritance.  I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.  I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

• Psalm 16 is the appointed Psalm for Holy Saturday.  In Psalm 16, King David expresses confidence that God is able to save even as he cries out for help.  He makes it clear that the Lord is his one source for blessing.   He criticizes the false gods of surrounding nations, and he declares that his Lord is as precious to him as the land his ancestors were given.
• When David says the lines have fallen for me in pleasant places, he is remembering how God instructed Joshua to distribute the Promised Land to the 12 tribes.  When he declares that he has a beautiful inheritance, he is praising and thanking God for his lovely and abundant earthly property, but he is also remembering the eternal dwelling promised by God.  When David says that the Lord is always before him and that God is at his right hand and therefore he would not be shaken, he is remembering that God is always with him and caring for him, as a loving father would be with and care for his son.
• Lesson #3 tonight is from King David, and it’s about remembering who God is, all that he has done, and all that he promises. It’s about remembering that God has created each of us wonderfully, marvelously, and with significant good works to carry through.   It’s about remembering what Christ went through so that we could have the forgiveness of sins, and that wherever there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.   It’s about remembering that as a plaque in my office reminds, we worship a God of second chances and new beginnings.
• The kingdom of God is like a small group of God’s people who on Holy Saturday are learning from the farmers patience.  From those who have persevered through major tribulation, they are learning their first assignment each day is to rest in the greatness of their God, and from King David, they learn to focus on the beautiful inheritance prepared for them in heaven.  In the Sabbath’s shadow, they are waiting, they are resting, and they are remembering. In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.