The Temple readings were for men but women started sabbath on Friday with the Shabbat (Saturday) prayers by the lighting of candles. The wisps of smoke began wafting towards God and continued to separate in fragments while the matriarch called the family together and offered the opening prayersiu. 

    This is not a new format of prayer but one that continues from ancient times. In all countries around the world prayers in Jewish families are always in the native tongue from Israel, Hebrew. 

     Matthew 26 describes how Jesus was taken at night, which was illegal and a mockery of a trial  followed. Pilate first exonerated Jesus then granted the will of the angry crowed. He was to be executed by crucifixion. 

     Judas, the son of perdition  or damnation, sold out Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Overcome by guilt, Judas Iscariot returned to the chief priest and cast the silver before them. He realized he had been played a fool. They did not want the “Blood Money” back so the rabbinical priests bought a potters field, a burial place for paupers and strangers. 

     Remorse is difficult thing to deal with so in his anger and sorrow, Judas Iscariot took his own life before Christ was crucified. He hung himself and his rotting flesh fell into the potters field, purchased for thirty pieces of silver. 

     Before we start judging Judas we must remember that God’s plan for redemption was playing out. Judas didn’t make it happen. Almighty God, the Father, set the action into play! Remember, all but one disciple went into hiding when Jesus was crucified. Judas betrayed and the others ran. 

     The lives of the twelve, Mathias was elected to take Judas’ place, still had no power or spiritual strength. Those gifts were yet to come. These instructed men were now playing out God’s instructions. They were frightened and living life forward. They had yet to surrender themselves completely to God. They did not realize that their humanness and fears were understood by God and he still loved them. Only John, the beloved, would not become a martyr! John was with Jesus for the Seder Passover meal and stayed at the cross to receive further instruction from a dying Jesus. John remained firm and the others were to be restored. 

     The markers of Passover and Christ’s Crucifixion are relived annually by both groups through the “Blood of the Lamb.” Here we find life, both for the Jew and the Christian. 

    The horrible suffering of Jesus, as depicted in the movie “The Passion of Christ” in 2004, is Jesus’ death before us. This movie sickened Christians and many refused to watch it because  “it was too real, too violent.”

    In Jerusalem, on the night of Christ’s death, the presence of “God with us”  was gone! Bethlehem’s joy was long past. Joseph was dead. Jesus was dead. Mary was left to John’s care and keeping. Eleven original disciples hid and were overcome by fear. Things were different, very different! In the Jerusalem’s Temple a shocking scene changed mankind – FOREVER! Those who saw the inner Sanctuary, the Holy of Holies, were aghast. This was the place where the Chief High Priest entered once a year to gain forgiveness for God’s Chosen People, the Jews.  The separating veil was torn apart, from top to bottom! The purpose was yet to be defined at Pentecost. 

    Fear heightens everything! The imagination, high blood pressure, panic and pain must have played havoc with the disciples. Trust was gone and so was Jesus.  What next? Peter denied Christ! They were all known to have associated with Jesus. They believed their executions were imminent. 

     Everything that had consumed them for three years was gone. The sky had darkened, the earth shook. John had witnessed the limp, lifeless body of Jesus being washed, and wrapped in grave clothing and placed in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea

     Jesus had lived well within his time period. He was transported to Egypt shortly after birth for protection. It has been estimated by scholars that Jesus walked over three thousand miles in his ministry, walking in circles, you might say. He was referred to as teacher, Rabbi. He had helped, fed, healed and restored life within a relative short distance from his home. Now he was gone. 

     The desolation that set in on that Friday night and into the Sabbat (Saturday) Sabbath Day. 

   Today is Sabbat and we will probably stay in place and reflect? After finishing this message, take your bible and turn to the gospel of Matthew 27:32-56. Read it out loud. Let the account be sounded. Be still and imagine that very dark period without being in God’s presence. God withdrawn…… 

     Some scholars describe Hell as being “Out of God’s Presence.” The phrase “Hell on Earth” took place for a short moment when Jesus  died. Some interpret that in these hours Jesus went into hell to set captives free.  

    Whatever you understand, please know that this was a dark, foreboding time.           Heaven and earth were shaken and for those with a genuine love for Jesus, a new dawn, Yom Rishun (The first day of the week), was coming. New winds were about to blow across Jerusalem!

“Dear God, As we awaken help us to realize that your love never fails. We are a forgiven people, a restored people. Give us new strength to follow you. Keep us free and ready to do your will. On this Holy Saturday do not allow the emptiness or depression of Covid19 to overwhelm our being. Help us to be the free. In social distancing may we, your people, never be distanced from you! Bless me, fill me afresh and do the same for my family and our Covenant family. Prepare us today to celebrate restoration and may we be forgiven as we forgive others! Amen, in the precious name of Jesus.”