“Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment” (Luke 23:56).
The four gospels do not tell us much about what happened on the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. We know that after Jesus died, the disciples stayed behind locked doors for fear of the Jewish leaders (John 20:19). Their fear was well-founded because on that Saturday, the chief priests and the Pharisees met with Pilate and asked him to order the tomb sealed to prevent the disciples from stealing Jesus’ body (Matthew 27:62-66). After the resurrection, those same religious leaders bribed the guards so they would spread the rumor that the disciples had indeed stolen Jesus’ body from the tomb (Matthew 28:11-15). The only other detail we know about Saturday is that because it was the Sabbath, the women who were with Jesus at the cross rested according to the commandment (Luke 23:56).
One thing seems clear about that Saturday. No one was expecting a resurrection. No one was saying, “I can’t wait until tomorrow when Jesus rises from the dead.” Even though he had said he would rise, the brutal events at Golgotha made that prediction seem like wishful thinking.
This is Day 7 of Eight Days that Changed the World. Silent Saturday feels like a long day because the crucifixion is behind us, but death is still with us and the final victory lies somewhere in the future.
The message of Holy Saturday is, “Get ready. Something is about to happen. But it hasn’t happened yet.” Thank God, we’re not moving back toward the crucifixion. It may be Saturday but we’re moving toward Easter. Sunday’s coming. All we’ve got to do is hold on a little while longer and Sunday will soon be here.
Keep the faith, brothers and sisters. Yesterday our Lord was crucified. Today his body lies in the tomb. Tomorrow he rises from the dead. Saturday can seem like a long day—and it is—but be of good cheer. The crucifixion is behind us, Saturday will not last forever. Sooner than we think, Sunday will be here.
We are Easter people marching from Good Friday through Holy Saturday on our way to Easter Sunday. We’re not quite there, but we’re moving in the right direction.
It’s Saturday, but Sunday’s coming. Let that thought give strength to your heart today.
O Lord, waiting is so hard. And waiting is what this day is all about. Grant us faith while we wait so we will not lose heart but will be ready to rejoice when Sunday finally comes. Amen.
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