Holy Week – Saturday – In the Stillness

What just happened! Yesterday was a day like no other and the believers were emotionally crushed and in observance of the Sabbath, were at their homes. The stillness must have been deafening compared to the uproar of the events the day before.

How their minds must have been trying to remember the words that Jesus spoke and comprehend their meaning now that He was dead and buried. Was this real? What would happen next?

As the believers sat in silence, the Pharisees remembered and were actively trying to prevent the predicted outcome. The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” (Matthew 27:62-66)

The religious leaders took Jesus’ resurrection claims more seriously than the disciples did. They took steps they thought would prevent it and took every precaution that His body would remain in the tomb. But they failed to understand that no rock, seal or guards could prevent the Son of God from rising again.

The Saturday before Easter is often referred to as Holy Saturday and is a day of both sadness and joy at the same time. It’s a day of reflection, waiting, hoping, and praying. It’s a day that the enemy (death) though it had victory.

It is good news that Christ went down to the grave to bring life from death, light from darkness. Now we are saved from the power of death and the power of the grave. 1 Corinthians 15:55 says, “Where, o Death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” Death came to the human race because of sin, but praise God Jesus has won the battle over death for us and now we are free from the consequence of sin.

Just as Jesus’ followers waited the tedious hours of that Saturday to see what would occur Sunday, so we wait to see the hand of the Lord in our own lives. The prayers that are yet to be answered and the hopes left lingering can all be placed at the throne of God as we rest and abide in His presence. Over the last few years many have been confined and isolated – practicing social distancing and locked down. Jesus understands. In the isolation, He is there. In the stillness, He is there.

Holy Saturday is a time for us to lean into being present with the Lord, placing our own agendas at the door, and coming before Him to simply be with Him. The Lord desires a relationship with us, and a requirement of a relationship is time together. Holy Saturday is a great day not to ask for anything, but to simply spend time meditating on your salvation and remembering the hope we have in Jesus.

Lord, thank you for the opportunity to be still with You today. Help me to remember Your words and rest in the assurance of Your promises. There is always purpose in the waiting and I pray that I will remain faithful and hopeful. I will be still and know that You are God. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Go Deeper with Holy Week Readings

The Pharisees ask for a guard at Jesus’ tomb – Matthew 27:62-66
The Savior’s body lies in the grave – Matthew 27:59-28:1 Mark 15:46