That Saturday was painfully silent. The disciples were sad. Their flags were flying at half mast. That Saturday before the resurrection was a day of desolation, shattered dreams, gloom and inertia. Think how it was for Mary, Jesus' mother - a sword had pierced her soul. Think of Peter's agonizing guilt, John's heartache and Mary Magdalene's despair. All of us have experienced something of this feeling in our lives. Sadly, there are multitudes of people living in the silence of Saturday. Ray Stedman writes, "Someone has called our present generation Saturday's children and it's an apt term. In the midst of an increasingly godless world, despair grips people's hearts everywhere. Hopelessness and meaningless come crushing in on us from every side." (The Ruler who Serves, page 109).

Without the resurrection of Christ we are all Saturday's children. We may see that Jesus died on a cross. We may see it as an act of love. But there is no power in it without his resurrection! Paul wrote, "If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless (this blog too) and so is your faith" 1Cor. 15:13-13.

Back to the hymn - He Arose. The chorus is to be sung joyfully. The silence of Saturday is over and the praise of Sunday has begun.

I like the joy of Sunday much more than the silence and gloom of Saturday. Christ followers are Sunday's children. Sunday's children live in the historical, intellectual and emotional reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Sunday's children are full of praise and joy because Christ conquered sin and the grave. Sunday's children are full of hope, truth, wisdom, grace and mercy because Jesus lives!

What is your day? Saturday with all of its silence and hopelessness? Or Sunday? Sunday is bounding with life and irrepressible hope! I am Sunday's child.

Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Pastor Tim