Holy Week in Real Time: Holy Saturday
Open Your Bible
Luke 23:54-56, Matthew 27:62-66, Isaiah 53:8-12
BY Guest Writer
Text: Luke 23:54-56, Matthew 27:62-66, Isaiah 53:8-12
Today is the seventh day of the portion of the church calendar commonly known as Holy Week.
In the coming days, we will slow our pace, walking through the events that took place between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. Rather than offer personal, written responses to each day’s Scripture reading, we’ve asked our friend, Pastor Russ Ramsey, to provide a real-time summary of the week’s events. Our prayer is that this more descriptive approach will usher you into the narrative and allow space for you to fully engage the beauty and ache of Holy Week.
Take this week slowly and reverently. It is a somber time, but let us never forget: Sunday is coming.
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The Saturday following Jesus’ crucifixion might be the most unique and overlooked day in the history of the world. It is the day between Jesus’ death and His resurrection.
Less is written in the Gospels about this day than any other in the scope of this week known as Holy Week. But what makes it so unique is this: it is the only full day in history where the body of the crucified Son of God lay dead and buried in a grave.
The day before, He was crucified. The following day He would rise from the grave. But what happened on Saturday? Though we may not know much about this day, when we look at the few verses the Gospels give us accounting for it, we find it 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. On the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, Jesus’ prediction preoccupied their thoughts in such a way that they couldn’t leave it alone.
Matthew 27:62-66 tells us the strange story of how the Chief Priests simply could not dismiss the possibility that Jesus might have known something they didn’t. They went to Pilate and explained that while Jesus was clearly an imposter, His disciples might try to steal His body and fake a resurrection. Pilate’s response was laced with poetic foreshadowing when he said, “Here is a guard of soldiers. Make the tomb as secure as you can.”
Pilate’s words reminds me of C.S. Lewis who said, “Really, a young Atheist cannot guard his faith too carefully. Dangers lie in wait for him on every side” (Surprised by Joy).
The entire week leading up to the crucifixion was filled with moments in which Jesus’ power, strength, wisdom, and authority challenged many to reconsider what they presumed about Him. He was not easily forgotten. He forced many, including the religious leaders, Pontius Pilate, and His own twelve disciples, to take a close look at what they really believed about who He was.
That Saturday, as His body lay wrapped in linen in a grave, there were many around Jerusalem who sat with uneasy questions about whether or not there would be another chapter in Jesus’ story. His uncommon strength, coupled with the supernatural darkness that settled over the land during His crucifixion (Matthew 27:45), set on edge those who wanted Him dead, even after they’d succeeded. A resurrection would only cause people to believe in Him more.
But then, shouldn’t a resurrection cause people to believe in Him more?
written by Russ Ramsey
adapted from Behold the King of Glory
40 thoughts on "Holy Week in Real Time: Holy Saturday"
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May you find LIFE Jadah in Jesus-the only one who will never let you down!
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Still Saturday… Who could believe through watching a friend closer than a brother be brutalized… After being the one to turn my back on perfection and beauty and love by definition… That He would rise again? Or that if He did, that He would still want me? Grieving-in real time-with the disciples today. Even while this song plays in my head.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YwxC5R3Xu2k
Death be not proud… You will not kill me. -
No matter how many promises Jesus made
of his resurrection, most of His followers found themselves hopeless this day many many years ago. Oh how easily we forget. Oh how easily we doubt.
Jesus’ words are true. He can be trusted even when all hope is lost.
This Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday are quite unique for me this year. Not only am I celebrating Jesus’ death and resurrection, it is also the death of my marriage (divorce finalized Friday). I cling to hope that LIFE is coming, no matter how hopeless my situation can feel at times. Thank You, Jesus for bringing us hope and peace.-
Blessings and prayers to you sweet sister- may He rule and reign as your Prince of Peace as He rules and reigns over all things. Sunday is coming!
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I am praying for you, sister. And feeling very blessed that you are turning to Him in this difficult time.
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Saying a prayer for you.
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Prayers of strength and comfort to you today, Jadah. ♥
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I have sat for a whole hour or so writing about how I have felt this week , walking in real time …and guess what, at the press of one stupid button it is all gone…in tears…I feel as though my thoughts were prayers to the Lord, and they are gone…agh…thankfully, I also know He knows what’s in my heart, and He I am sure, heard me the first time…
It’s so quiet today, isn’t it?
It almost feels like the world is waiting…
Yesterday, on Good Friday, Jesus uttered His last words..’it is finished…’
Today there is a quiet that causes my heart to stop and give thanks for the gift that Jesus has given to me, a time today, in the quiet, in the waiting to reflect on truly what a friend, what a saviour, what great and unfathomable love…
I come back to it time and time again…
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.
See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all….
Thank you Jesus..Thank you Lord God, thank you…Sunday is coming….
Love, love, love, to ALL,..
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Sunday is coming no matter how dark and hopeless it seems. salvation hope and redemption are around the corner amen
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Amen.. Leah..Ain’t that the truth…
Blessings… xx -
I have sat for a whole hour or so writing about how I have felt this week , walking in real time …and guess what, at the press of one stupid button it is all gone…in tears…I feel as though my thoughts were prayers to the Lord, and they are gone…agh…thankfully, I also know He knows what’s in my heart, and He I am sure, heard me the first time…
It’s so quiet today, isn’t it?
It almost feels like the world is waiting…
Yesterday, on Good Friday, Jesus uttered His last words..’it is finished…’
Today there is a quiet that causes my heart to stop and give thanks for the gift that Jesus has given to me, a time today, in the quiet, in the waiting to reflect on truly what a friend, what a saviour, what great and unfathomable love…
I come back to it time and time again…
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.
See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all….
Thank you Jesus..Thank you Lord God, thank you…Sunday is coming….
Love, love, love, to ALL,..
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I never tire of that song! Sang it in my head just now as I read your written words…Oh, the wonderful cross! Oh, the wonderful cross! Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live. ♥ Thank you for putting that in my head this Saturday of in-betweens.
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Sitting on my couch, I too feel that the whole world is waiting for Sunday. A calmness and peace holds us as we wait in excitement. Sunday’s coming! Thanks again Tina for your insights. They so bless all of us.
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Very beautifully said. This spoke so deep into my heart. Thanks for sharing!
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It’s fascinating to me how Jesus’ friends and followers seemed to miss His words about rising three days later, yet the chief priests and the Pharisees could not forget them… “We remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again'” (Matt. 27:63).
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Lisa, morning.
I’m wondering about your comment on why Jesus’ people seemed to miss Him saying He will rise again, whilst those who wished Him harm remembered.. well I think the disciples had heard Jesus say, many things, this being one, that He will rise up 3 days later…thing is what do you remember when you are grieving, let alone something as far fetched as rising again……Whereas the priests and Pharisees….they meant to harm Him, dispose of Him for good…they supposedly were intellects, readers of the word ( the truth), but having twisted what they knew for wrong, they now lived in fear of ‘what if’…They had reason to be afraid, I believe in their hearts there was a stirring…’oh my goodness’ , ‘oh my goodness, ”what if,’ ‘what if,’ ‘what if’…..they had more reason to believe, for the wrong reasons, that Jesus would rise up from the grave….
I’ve rambled, but I hope it made sense..
Blessings…
Indeed Sunday is coming….Amen..x-
Amen… ♥ Blessed Easter to my friend across the pond!
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Yes, maybe my comment didn’t fully communicate what I was thinking. I agree with you completely. What is interesting to me is that the disciples, while perhaps having it in their minds Jesus said He would rise again, their actions did not indicate a faith-filled anticipation, but rather surprise and doubt. However, the words of Jesus did not escape the religious leaders, who were anticipating (fearfully so) the fulfillment of His own self-prediction.
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Sunday is coming! Glory to His Name!
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Praise to Jesus… For He will rise again and defeat death forever.
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