Be Still And Know

“Be still, and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10a)

Just half of a verse summarizes Easter weekend. “Be still”—Sabbath Saturday—“and know that I am God”—Resurrection Sunday. We understand Good Friday and we celebrate Easter Sunday, but it seems like there’s nothing to do with the Saturday in the middle. Jesus’ family and followers were certainly still mourning His death but they also would have been observing the Sabbath according to the Jewish law. At that point in history, the Sabbath had become extremely restrictive, even going so far as to restrict the number of steps someone could take before it became a violation of the Sabbath. By law, everyone would be still on that Saturday.

“As his body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed. Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint his body. But by the time they were finished the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law. But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.” (Luke 23:55-56, 24:1)

Do you see how immediate the women’s actions were? They had to know where Jesus’ body was taken and then they immediately went to prepare spices and ointments to anoint Jesus’ body; they simply ran out of time because the Sabbath began. So they had to be still. But, as soon as they could, right at sunrise, the women went out to the tomb where they would know that He is God.

“They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, ‘Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.’ Then they remembered that he had said this. So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened.” (Luke 24:2-9)

“They rushed back.” The body is gone and with it all doubt and all mourning. He is risen. He is God. There’s no time for being still, because now they knew He is God and they have to tell everyone else.

“But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.” (Luke 24:11-12)

“Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in.” (John 20:3-5)

Even though the story sounded like nonsense to most of the men, Peter and John were done being still. Men in this time and culture did not run; it was considered a very undignified thing to do, but they wanted to know that He is God. They too found the tomb empty, just as the women had said. Jesus had risen from the dead. 

“During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.” (Acts 1:3)

“Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’” (Matthew 28:18-20)

First, the women found out that He is God, then the disciples, and then Jesus put it to His followers to proclaim to the rest of the world that He is God! Be still and know that I am God—the entire Easter weekend summed up in eight words. Now that we know He is God, it is up to us to go and spread the Truth to the rest of the world. 

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

—Redeemed