Day 46

Holy Week in Real Time: Holy Saturday

from the Lent 2016 reading plan


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.

___

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?

SRT-Lent-Instagram46swritten by Russ Ramsey
adapted from Behold the King of Glory

Post Comments (40)

40 thoughts on "Holy Week in Real Time: Holy Saturday"

  1. Rosemary says:

    I’ve helped lay out bodies, and I keep thinking of the women coming to the tomb to make sure Jesus was properly taken care of. It’s such an intimate, tender, thing to do for a person. Frightening too, because it’s hard to feel entirely comfortable around a corpse. I’ve never laid out someone I loved, as the women did for Jesus, but still, whenever I touch someone’s dead body (often — I’m a nurse) I am very aware that mine are some of the last hands touching that person with kindness and affection, seeing them as a person and not an object. I am extra gentle and attentive because of that. I’m imagining the women at the tomb doing the same thing, probably crying, certainly devastated, and I am so moved by their love and devotion in the face of everything falling apart. We love Jesus knowing that he is risen but they loved him believing that he was gone — I wish I knew I had that kind of tender faithfulness in the face of fear.

    1. Maria Baer says:

      Rosemary, this is beautiful. As someone who has lost a father, I appreciate the kindness and respect you showed those people after they’ve passed. I never thought of it from this point of view. And truly it is such a kind act. The respect with which you treat the bodies is such a reflection of you love for God and servant heart. Be blessed sister.

    2. G. Kelly says:

      Wonderful thoughts! Thank you.

    3. Alicia E. says:

      Thank you for your perspective and for your loving gentleness with these people. I feel like so often people in that position would want to distance themselves and almost forget that the bodies were human to make it easier. I know that has to be quite a challenge, but I admire and respect you for keeping their humanity at the forefront of your mind during those times. God bless you, sister!

    4. Nicole says:

      What a beautiful perspective.

  2. Nana says:

    I am so grateful that I was a part of this study. It made me look further into who Jesus is and what He did for all of us. Also seeing women like me in their journeys proclaiming God as their Father was so humbling and seeing you lift each other up as well. God bless you all and I love you all. Sunday is coming. Praise You, Abba,for letting the Son reverse the curse we were and giving us life in exchange. Hallelujah!

  3. Joanna says:

    Silent Saturday. Echoing the words of dear Churchmouse, I hope to reflect and pray today. This past week the most profound and touching Holy Week I’ve ever experienced. It was as if I was finally able to “put a face to a name,” and His name is Jesus. What a man. What a sacrifice. What a gift.

  4. Praise the Lord Sunday’s coming…

  5. Laurie says:

    I just want to thank SheReadsTruth for this Lent study. I am 53 years old and have been a Christian since I was 16. I have been a church girl all my life. Unfortunately, sometimes when you hear the same stories year after year, they don’t hold the magnificence that they should. I prayed this year that the Lord would really help me understand and realize what He did on the cross and its significance. I also asked him to help me make it personal. I used this study daily and I just wanted to say thank you. God is using y’all. I am thankful for your ministry.

    1. Creed says:

      Oh Laurie, ME TOO! I am 54, saved at 17. I prayed the same prayer and boy has God shown out! Through this study, I have dug deeper than ever before and I am just blown away.
      Christmas had always been my favorite holiday, but this year…….Easter. Easter is the reason he came!!!!
      God Bless SRT and my sisters in Christ

      1. April says:

        I felt exactly the same this year! Christmas has always been my favorite, but I’ve been so joyfully emotional this Lenten season. Isn’t Easter wonderful!!

  6. Donna Symes says:

    I agree. As was said earlier, ‘it’s so quiet today” I love the commentary and have never thought about this. God is always working even in the silence.

  7. churchmouse says:

    I never know what to do with Holy Saturday. Good Friday, I’m somber, profoundly saddened by the cruelty of the condemnation by the crowds and the Cross. Sunday, I rejoice in my risen Savior. But Saturday… What do I do with Saturday? The silent Saturday.

    Ahhhh Russ, you’ve helped me with that. Thank you.

    “Jesus was not easily forgotten. He forced many to take a close look at what they really believed about who He was.”

    And so this Saturday, I will be silent. I will turn off that which distracts me, all those too convenient devices. Anything that makes Jesus ‘forgotten’ throughout my day. And I will take a closer look at what I believe about Who Jesus is. My words will be few this day as I seek to sit by the tomb this Saturday.

    Because I anticipate shouting on Sunday.

    1. CJ says:

      Amen Amen Amen!!!

    2. Creed says:

      Thank you Churchmouse. I looked forward to reading your post everyday.
      The silent Saturday. Imagine it. What was everyone thinking, feeling? Grief, fear, shame, confusion and doubt? Ahh, but we know the rest of the story. God is working in the silence. SUNDAY IS COMING!!!!

    3. Kam says:

      Ah yes, thank you again for your words Church mouse. Sunday is coming.

    4. Mantombi says:

      Amen!

    5. Russ Ramsey says:

      Thanks Churchmouse. Hope you and all the rest of you “She’s” have a wonderful Easter!

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