Text: Matthew 27:62-66
Today is Holy Saturday. It is a sad day, a somber day, a real day on the timeline to the resurrection. But it is not an unimportant day. Indeed, the opposite is true.
Holy Saturday is a part of God’s fulfillment of His promise to redeem and restore His people. Holy Saturday is not defeat; it is the quiet but confident prelude to victory.
So what happened on the Saturday of Holy Week? Again today, we “Shes” find our hearts encouraged by the words of our He Reads Truth brothers—these written by pastor and author Russ Ramsey. Russ answers the question this way:
“That Saturday is one of the most unique and overlooked days in the history of the world because it was the only full day where the body of the crucified Son of God lay dead and buried in a grave.
“Holy Saturday can be a forgotten day in the Easter story. But when we look at the few verses the Gospels give us accounting for it, we find this was by no means a forgotten day to the chief priests who had handed Jesus over to death.
“During His earthly ministry Jesus said many times that He would die in Jerusalem at the hands of the chief priests, but on the third day He would rise again (Matthew 12:40; Mark 8:31, 9:31, 10:34). Of course, the chief priests scoffed at this. But they didn’t forget it. And on the Saturday of Holy Week, Jesus’ prediction occupied their thoughts in such a way that they couldn’t leave it alone.
“The chief priests couldn’t seem to dismiss out of hand the possibility that Jesus might have known something they didn’t. They went to Pontius Pilate and explained that while Jesus was clearly an imposter, His disciples might try to steal His body and fake a resurrection. In a moment of prophetic irony, Pilate said, ‘Here is a guard of soldiers. Make the tomb as secure as you can’ (Matthew 27:65).
“Jesus’ uncommon strength, coupled with the supernatural darkness that settled over the land during His crucifixion the day before, set His accusers on edge. So on Holy Saturday, the chief priests made the tomb as secure as they could. Why? Because a resurrection would only cause people to believe in Jesus more.
“But then, shouldn’t the resurrection of the dead have that effect?”
On Holy Saturday, the chief priests made the tomb as secure as they could. But no amount of earthly might would keep Jesus in the grave.
Today we remember that Christ’s death was a real part of the story, but it was not the end of the story. Sunday was coming.
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48 thoughts on "Holy Saturday"
“Sunday is coming” – This reminds me so much of a gentleman in our church who recently lost his wife to cancer. They are both SO young to have had such struggles but so incredibly strong and wise in the Lord. I kept thinking all weekend about what he said at his wife’s funeral and I thought I would share it here. I pray that this blesses you as it blessed all of us at her service. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siAlk7KPFzE&feature=youtu.be
Glory to God
I’m reminded on Holy Saturday of what it means to wait. Waiting is so hard for me! Just as Jesus’ disciples must wait the three long days for Christ to rise, I find myself waiting too. How do we find joy and peace in the waiting? By trusting that God is ultimately in control. That He loves us and has already won.
http://www.themendproject.com
Love this! Thanks for sharing!
I love what Amanda said about today being part of God’s fulfillment of His promise. Being in the tomb didn’t show that Jesus lied about why He’d come; in fact, it proved that He was Who He said He was. His victory over sin and death wouldn’t be complete without this day. I’m so thankful that He fulfills His promises, both then and now!
Reminds me of the lead singer of Tenth Avenue North, Mike Donehey’s testimony: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yrJGnsKI9-c
Even in the darkest of days, God is up to something beautiful. Thank you Lord!
I loved this, this morning. I never realized that today, Saturday, was the only full day that Jesus laid in the tomb. So thankful for Sunday. I did watch the short video Its Friday but Sunday is coming.
Even today evil men try to keep the truth from being revealed. Nothing is hidden from God.In God’s own time the truth is revealed,whatever men try to hide God will reveal in a way that every one will know.God always exposes evil.ln America today much evil is being exposed in the highest offices of government. Many people think that they can use ungodly means to obtain Godly results. I am wondering who are the chief priests of today who are making the tomb secure.
The Lord used Rahab (a prostitute), David (an adulterer & murderer), Jonah (a man who ran from God), Saul (a former persecutor of Christians)…the list goes on and on…don’t think that he can’t use someone who is less than perfect “to obtain Godly results.” There is no tomb to be secured. The stone HAS been rolled away. Christ IS risen!
Great way to reflect on Holy Saturday.
Since Saturday is the Jewish Sabbath, I wonder if there was any interruption in their normal Sabbath routine because of the events of the day before – especially the tearing of the veil in the temple. It doesn’t seem like they could carry on with ‘normal’ Sabbath tradition. Also, was it not inconsistent with the Pharisees’ and Chief Priests’ Sabbath practice to hold a meeting with Pilate? Wonder if they considered clandestine meetings work?
Great thought provoking questions
Wow I’ve never considered that! What a great question!
If you ladies have a moment. I am just about to write my final exam, please pray for me! ❤️
Blessings on you all
Praying for you, Kersti!
Praying Kersti!!!!
Thank you!!! ❤️
Said a prayer for you, Kersti!
Thank you❤️
Prayers said for you!
Thank you ❤️
Praying for you, Kersti! Trust your exam goes well!
Thank you❤️
Praying right now Kersti!
❤️
My dog, Hailey, died last night. My husband’s closest companion for 10 1/2 years, and mine for 4, she went while in our arms. And it stings so bad. But I find it fitting that she would die on Goid Friday. On a day of mourning. And my SRT wallpaper that says, “He will destroy death forever. The Lord God will wipe away the tears from every face and remove His people’s disgrace from the whole earth, for the Lord has spoken,” is a comfort to me. i am grateful that this happened yesterday, while the promise of tomorrow is still imminent. Praise be to God for His faithfulness, even after death.
So sorry for your loss.
So sorry for your loss! Praying you receive comfort from God for both you & your husband
So sorry for the loss of your fur baby ☹ What a beautiful reflection and lesson from a difficult day though. Hope the weekend is filled with good memories and joy tomorrow with the though of Christ’s victory over death.
Sorry for yours and your family’s loss. Praying for peace at this time.
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
The Lord is holding you up, catching every tear. Rest assured that He has never, and will never leave your side.
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I am too familiar with that sting. My dog of 13 years passed away a week ago today. Let yourself mourn, and let the tears flow, and it is so great to rest in the fact that God is your ultimate comforter and healer. He is sovereign over the suffering in your life. Through this suffering you get to celebrate the resurrection and know that death has lost its sting. For good. I am praying that you and your husband would experience the peace that surpasses all understanding. Hang in there, Mary!
Praise God……Sunday is coming!
Pilate was merciful, till it became risky. ~ C.S. Lewis.
Pilate’s attempts were pointless when it came to keeping Jesus from rising again. Even if he didn’t believe it, if he was convinced that the disciples were the ones to try to move the body, it was all out of his hands at this point. God was in control and His Word had already declared that on the third day He would come up out of that grave!
And today, it is the same.
We cannot prevent the Word of God from being fulfilled. Prophecy has come true for hundreds and hundreds of years, and the last few prophecies will come to pass. Jesus will come again for His people, those that have made themselves ready for His appearing.
So thankful that because Jesus conquered death, hell AND the grave that I can too. Thankful for His presence that surrounds our lives and praying this morning for a fresh look at the Cross, the empty tomb and the promise of His coming. May it never become stale to me!
Love this! So beautifully put and I pray to always see it with new eye too<3
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Yes! I can conquer anything because Jesus went before me and defeated everything. I hope the truths of Easter never become stale for me, either.
Praying this morning, as I anticipate tomorrow, that a deeper love for my Jesus would be resurrected in me. Amen.
Amen!
Yes! Amen!
Couldn’t sleep this morning. I got up at 4 and decided to spend some time before the morning light praying about this Holy Saturday. The liturgy in the Book of Common Prayer for this day lead me to psalm 130 and it spoke straight to my heart:
“I wait for the Lord more than watchman for the morning- more than watchman for the morning.
Israel, put your hope in the Lord. For there is faithful love with the Lord, and with him is redemption in abundance.” psalm 130:6-7
We wait, we hope. Sunday is coming.
Thank you for sharing those verses! What a beautiful reminder of the expectant waiting even in the dark of Saturday.
As I wait at the airport this Holy Saturday, I look to the one who gives me victory over death and all the hard and sorrowful in my life! I love Him beyond words!
Were you there when they crucified my Lord..?
Were you there…
Ooooh, it causes me to tremble…tremble… tremble…
Were you there…
Sadly.
Sadly, I was.
Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?
Were you there..
Ooooh, sometimes it causes me to tremble… tremble… tremble,
Were you there…
Sadly.
Sadly, I was…
Were you there when they laid Him a tomb?
Were you there…
Ooooh, sometimes it causes me to tremble… tremble… tremble,
Were you there…
Sadly.
Sadly, I was…
Will you be there when He rises up from the grave?
Will you be there…
Ooooh, sometimes it causes me to tremble… tremble… tremble
Will you be there…?
Unworthy sinner that I am..
But God…
God.., calls me to be there..
He calls me to see the truth of how wide, how deep, how high His love for me, for us is…
The truth of the Cross. The truth of our redemption, the truth of our salvation, the truth of our Hope, our King…. Jesus…
Will I be there…?
Repentant.., Hope filled…, Joy filled…, Saved…, Loved…
CHANGED.
I WILL BE THERE. I WILL BE THERE!
Sunday is coming…
Sending love across the pond…xx
Always one of my favorite hymns despite the sadness of it all because it deepens the meaning of Easter. It was me. And yet, He still chose to die for my sins. What a wonderful Savior. I can’t wait to sing “Up From the Grave He Arose” tomorrow. HaPpY Easter, Tina.
Thank you for writing this out. That hymn was sung in darkness at the end of the Good Friday service we attended by a small choir. Gave me chills because in its simplicity it speaks powerfully.
My seven year old loves music and has sensitive soul. Her ability to express her simple faith has grown a lot lately. After that song she was bawling. Her heart broken.
God may I receive Your gift as a child with pure, sweet faith. One that does not grow tired of hearing the depths of your sacrifice and feeling the weight of your death. May my heart long in expectation today as I wait to celebrate your victory. You are a good, good Father. It’s who You are. And I’m loved by You. It’s who I am…
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Amen!