Friday had been a horrible memory. Watching Jesus being betrayed, beaten, mocked, hanged on a cross, and finally seeing his dead body laid in a tomb. The dream, the excitement of a king, the ministry, all were suddenly silenced. We don’t know what the disciples did on Saturday. We don’t have a scripture to tell us where they went or what they did. The last we heard of a disciple was just before his death on Friday. (John 19:26-27 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the DISCIPLE whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, Woman, here is your son. 27 And to the disciple, here is your mother. From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.) John stayed near his friend, even when things were unpleasant to see and hear. John didn’t know on that Friday and Saturday what you and I know today. He didn’t know that Friday’s tragedy would be Sunday’s triumph. That’s why what he did on Saturday is so important. Jesus was dead. The Master’s body was lifeless. John’s friend and future were buried. But John had not left. Why? Was he waiting for the resurrection? No. As far as he knew, the lips were forever silent and the hands forever still. He wasn’t expecting a Sunday surprise. Then why was he here? Why didn’t John get out of town? Perhaps the answer was pragmatic; perhaps he was taking care of Jesus’ mother. Or perhaps he didn’t have anywhere else to go. Could be he didn’t have any money or energy or direction … or all of the above. Or maybe he lingered because he loved Jesus. You don’t abandon a friend, not even when that friend is dead. John stayed close to Jesus. He had a habit of doing this. He was close to Jesus in the upper room. He was close to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was at the foot of the cross at the crucifixion, and he was a quick walk from the tomb at the burial. Did he understand Jesus? No. Was he glad Jesus did what he did? No. But did he leave Jesus? No. What about you? When you’re in John’s position, what do you do? When it’s Saturday in your life, how do you react? When you are somewhere between yesterday’s tragedy and tomorrow’s triumph, what do you do? Do you leave God, or do you linger near him? John chose to linger. And because he lingered on Saturday, he was around on Sunday to see the miracle. Pastor Don [image: image.png]