Good Friday- In the Waiting

What do waiting and Good Friday have in common?

The disciples and Jesus' followers were waiting for Him to proclaim His earthly kingdom. They were all in. The miracles wowed them, the signs made them believers, the teachings were with power and authority. They had never known or seen or heard of anyone like Jesus. They were "pins and needles" waiting.

Then, not so good Friday came. Their hopes shattered. Their dreams dashed. Their future uncertain. They waited. Saturday came, they were still waiting. In shock. In disbelief. In confusion. In doubt. In fear. Yet, while they were waiting, with all of these emotions, they still observed the Sabbath. While they were waiting, they still loved their Savior who had become their Lord. While they were waiting, Sunday was coming. But before Sunday, the waiting included the darkest hours.

Darkest Hours
by Evangeline B. White
©2018

On the Mount drops fell from His forehead down
Sweat and blood dripped when no one was around.
The others fell asleep, unable to pray
It was the beginning of the darkest day.
An angel came and ministered to Jesus
Gave Him strength for the price He'd pay to free us.
The crowd who praised Him the week before
Came to betray Him, honor Him no more.
With swords and false words they came to indict
Rome against the Savior, yet He withheld His might.
His disciples scattered no more in sight
They thought this wasn't good and shrunk in fright.
Brought before Pilate and Herod He was
Beaten, mocked insulted, spit upon because
Darkness reigned during those hours
When the Son of God relinquished His powers.
Angels could have come at the sound of His voice
But they watched and waited as this was God's choice.
Women mourned and wailed for the cross was His fate.
On His shoulders sat the whole world's weight.
A crown of thorns was forced upon His head.
The charge against Him, "King of the Jews" it read.
His skin ripped apart from His head to His feet
Beyond recognition He had been beat.
With a final cry He breathed His last breath.
It was the darkest day, the Savior's death.