He had already built up the fire and had a big pot of coffee brewing near the fireplace’s edge.”
–Ron Schwab (Beware a Pale Horse)
Heard yuh comin’ Pard, grab a cup, coffee’s on the stove. Sure glad yuh stopped by this mornin’. Ahhh, good coffee! Yuh know, Pard, the day after the crucifixion of Jesus Saturday was a mournful day. There was loss of hope, and despair seemed to grip each person. The disciples were in hidin’, fearful for their lives. I reckon they must have remembered the words of Jesus regarding risin’ on the third day, but for some reason it didn’t register. They were a pitiful lot.
Now, Pard, I’ve done quite a bit of ponderin’ about that particular Saturday over the years. I don’t believe that Jesus had to stay in the grave for three days; He had the power to rise, but there was still some work to be done. I’m not sure what it was; it is one of those mysteries. Paul wrote that He took “captivity captive.” Now, what does that actually mean? We can’t be dogmatic ’bout it for sure. No, no, Pard, dogmatic isn’t some special breed of dog; it’s bein’ downright certain of something, so certain that you can’t change yur mind on the subject. But some theologians say that Jesus went to the underworld, the place of the dead. Some of them were lookin’ forward to the comin’ of the Messiah and now He was there in front of them, preachin’ to them. But then I remember the words of Jesus to the thief on the cross, “today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Let me get a swaller, ‘fore I continue. Mmm, tastes ‘specially good this mornin’. Now, back to what I was a-sayin’. The thief would be with Jesus in “Paradise.” Where was Paradise, I ask yuh? Many believe and I among them, that Paradise was that part of the underworld where the saints prior to the crucifixion were being held. There was a gulf between Paradise and the place of torment. Now, jist take a moment to consider this. Do yuh think Jesus took time to speak some with Adam? Maybe He told Adam that I’ve finally come to fix what yuh set in motion when yuh disobeyed in the Garden. He might have even glanced over at Eve. Remember, He was in the tomb for three days.
Pard, jist hold on, I’m not through with my vocalizin’ on the subject. Take another sip and listen. The words by that preacher of the past, Robert Lowry, come to my mind, “Death cannot keep his prey Jesus my Saviour! He tore the bars away Jesus my Lord!” Now, we know these weren’t physical bars like down at the jailhouse. O’l Lowry was usin’ the words symbolically. Bars, hmmm, not in Scripture, but the folk in the place of the dead were in some kind of bondage. Perhaps, now, jist perhaps, that Jesus did tear those bars away. Maybe He walked, smilin’ among them, noddin’ His head, and releasin’ them from the chains of death. Then, He motioned for them to “come on” it’s time to get on up to the Father’s house. Perhaps, He placed Moses at the head, so he could lead them into the realm of glory. Yuh know, it might have taken three days for that number to walk on up that golden staircase.
It’s another one of those spiritual mysteries. There had to be a reason for three days in the grave. Jesus always had a purpose, and He still does. But as for you, Pard, yur jist plain dumb sometimes. Yuh come over, drink coffee, jaw a spell, but then go out and forget to check yur cinch.
Vaya con Dios.