John 11:48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

“All men will believe on him” said the Pharisee and I wished it were true. It isn’t but O if wishing only made it so. So what did this man think would happen? Were not Romans men also, and if they believed on Jesus Christ what did he think would happen?

Israel’s hope in the Messiah was the restoration of Israel the nation. What they wanted was a King with power and authority to cast out the Romans and restore Israel to its former glory. The chief priests and leaders of the temple would maintain their place in the nation. It was self-interest they were looking for in a savior.

Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Most people reject Jesus because they want to be saved from their circumstances and He wants to save them from themselves. Students of history recognize that man is self-destructive. They look at the mistakes of the past and say “I would have done it this way.” No amount of historical understanding changes the nature of self-interest. The flaw is not in the system or regulations, the flaw is in us. We need to change, self-interest needs to be replaced with Agape Love. Jesus offers that and men still resist.

John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

The abiding presence of Christ makes all the difference in the world.

Luke 23:56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Thursday was Passover, yesterday was Good Friday and tomorrow is Easter. What is today, other than the Sabbath? It is silent Saturday, a day in which nothing is written. No one preaches on the events of silent Saturday, nothing happened. Do you think it is by chance that Christ died and was laid in the grave without His body being prepared in accordance with Jewish rituals?

Death came just before sundown Friday, the beginning of the Sabbath. They had not time to lay Him in a grave, none had been prepared until the very last minute. Joseph of Arimathaea had to beg Pilate for His body. There was not enough time left to perform the rights before the Sabbath. This meant that His family would have to return to His grace on the day after the Sabbath to complete their family obligations. Someone was appointed to check the grave. That in itself is enough to rejoice. God made one of those divine appointments with man, in this case women.

Luke 24:1, 5c, 6a Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen:

I only have one more thing to say about silent Saturday. You may find it profound or just silly. Personally I find it to be true.

John 15:5 c without me ye can do nothing.

Nothing happened because Jesus wasn’t there.