Jesus died on Friday so Saturday was a terrible day for those who had loved Jesus. God was silent on that dreadful Saturday. Jesus’ dead body lay in a dark, cold tomb. Hope had been swallowed up by sadness.
The frightened disciples were scattered, their minds overcome by fear and despair. They would have to endure the silent agony of Saturday without a word from God. Imagine how they felt. The voice of Jesus had been stilled and his Father was silent. His dream, their dream, had ended in disaster.
Most of us have lived through those silent Saturdays when death has claimed someone we loved. Numb with paralyzing grief, we hear nothing from God and flounder in desolation. I remember the heartbreaking Saturday after our son died. God was silent and we felt abandoned by the God to whom we had prayed fervently for our boy’s healing.
But because God loves us, he does not leave us to sit in the sadness of silent Saturdays. Saturday must give way to Sunday – and Sunday restores the hope we had lost. God speaks again! Pouring his love into our hearts, God breaks the hold of sorrow and renews our faith in his loving kindness.
Sunday symbolizes the coming of God to wipe away our tears, comfort us with his strengthening presence and galvanize our faith in the resurrection. The harsh silence of Saturday is overcome by the Third Day’s joy.
During my journey I have known many Christ followers who refused to allow silent Saturdays to shatter their faith. My friend Nathan Hamilton was such a man. As a young man Nathan fell in love with Jesus. He devoted his life to Jesus, using his gifted voice to bless others. As much as any person I have known, Nathan was an authentic servant of Jesus. He was my dear brother and I loved him.
Nathan was not a preacher but he was sold out for Jesus. He repaired chairs to support his family. But he did much more than fix chairs; he repaired souls while restoring broken chairs. In hundreds of homes, while working on a broken chair, he would quietly ask permission to sing a song for the home owner. Many were so blessed they invited Nathan to sing another song. While they were wiping away tears, Nathan would continue praising his Lord Jesus in song.
Victim of a glioblastoma brain tumor, Nathan’s body died in January of 2017. But those of us who loved him did not “lose” him because we know where he is. No one is lost if you know there they are. After a year of heartbreaking suffering, Nathan ran ahead of us to the Father’s House where he now sings in the greatest choir of the universe.
During the last chapter of his life, some seven years, Nathan served as worship leader for traditional services at Saint James Church in Montgomery, Alabama. It was my honor to serve alongside Nathan as he directed our choir and led our people in worship every Sunday! His singing touched our hearts. The way he led worship made you glad to be in church. His spirit reminded us what happens when you put Jesus first in your life.
Every Easter for seven years Nathan walked into our sanctuary near the end of my sermon and sang the inspiring song, “He’s Alive!” Composed by Don Francisco, the song is a testimony of the Apostle Peter. In the song Peter tells about his dreadful Saturday, how he had been unable to sleep, rising at every sound, with fear and sorrow gripping him. Hearing a voice calling, he goes to the door and finds Mary. Breathlessly, she tells him she had been to Jesus’ tomb, found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty.
The song continues with Peter saying John assumed a miracle had occurred, but Peter admits he could not embrace the idea for he had “seen them crucify him” and “I saw him die.” Peter sings of his guilt and shame for denying he even knew Jesus. Then the song turns with the word “suddenly.”
Here are Francisco’s awesome words: “Suddenly the air was filled with a strange and sweet perfume, light came down from everywhere, drove shadows from the room and Jesus stood before me with his arms held open wide and I fell down on my knees and I just clung to him and cried. Then he raised me to my feet and as I looked into his eyes the love was shining out from him like sunlight from the skies. Guilt in my confusion disappeared in sweet release and every fear I ever had just melted into peace.”
On those marvelous Easter Sundays, Nathan was robed like Peter dressed in the first century. As people were trembling with excitement, Nathan’s voice would erupt with these concluding precious words: “He’s alive. Yes he’s alive. Yes He’s alive and I’m forgiven, heaven’s gates are open wide, He’s alive. Yes, He’s alive, Oh He’s alive and I’m forgiven, heaven’s gates are open wide, He’ alive, He’s alive, Oh He’s alive and I’m forgiven, heaven’s gates are open wide, He’s alive, He’s alive, I believe it, He’s alive, sweet Jesus!”
Nathan is with the Lord now but the memory of his voice, his life and his love for Jesus, often bless my soul. One day I will see Nathan again, and then, with a perfected voice, I will join him in singing praise to Jesus. In the meantime I will continue sharing the good news that Jesus is truly alive, and because he is alive, heaven’s gates are open wide to all who choose to follow him.
Death could not keep him in the ground! He’s alive! Believe that and you are only two steps away from peace with God! The first step is to believe he’s alive. Believe that he alone can turn the sadness of Saturday into the joy of a life-changing Sunday.
The second step is to accept his forgiveness so you can be ready to walk through the wide open gates of heaven. Right now, this very minute, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead can give life to your mortal body and make you alive to God!
He’s alive! When you embrace that eternal truth, you begin living like a person to whom Jesus means everything! Glory!