If you ever go on vacation it seems
that you have to work twice as hard to prepare for that time
off. And yet five miles down the road on what is intended to be
a relaxing week you wonder, “Did I unplug the coffee maker?”
God provided the commandment to honor the Sabbath as a test of
faith for the Israelites even saying that they could prepare for
the Sabbath by gathering two days supply of manna on the sixth
day. So even then they were working twice as hard to prepare for
the day to refrain from work.
Each of the four Gospels recognizes
that Jesus was crucified, died and was buried on the Day of
Preparation that Jews observed before the Sabbath. The Gospels
each recognize how quickly (and certainly with difficulty)
Joseph of Arimathea had to work to bury Jesus before sundown,
the beginning of the Sabbath. He waited for Jesus to die, asked
Pilate for permission to take the body, bought (with help from
Nicodemus) the linens and the spices, wrapped and transported
the body to the burial site. Daylight surely was waning when the
task was completed.
The faithful prepared for the
Sabbath but who prepared for the resurrection? And how are we
preparing for Christ’s return? Are we working twice as hard to
live righteously before that day when He returns? The Bible
gives us a workshop full of tools to get the necessary work done
before that day. Read, study, pray, prepare, patience. That
great day will
come.
Dear Father, on this day of
preparation when you prepared us for eternal life by sacrificing
your son, help us to prepare for his coming again by living as
you would have us live. Lord we know the task may be difficult
but the rewards are great. Give us your grace and your peace for
the difficult days ahead with the promise of your coming glory.
In the name of your precious Son, Amen.
--Ben Ball
