Saturday
Saturday
SCRIPTURE | Matthew 27:62-66
62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.
TODAY’S THOUGHT | The King’s Silent Battle
Not much is often said about Saturday of Holy Week. Some have even called it the forgotten day.
For the disciples – this must have been a day of disbelief and despair. They thought Jesus was the Messiah and was going to overthrow the Romans rule in Israel to establish an earthly kingdom. For 3 years they watched as Jesus miraculously made the blind see, the lame walk, and the deaf hear. They were going to rule with Jesus. He sat on the colt and rode into Jerusalem, challenged the religious leaders – this was it. In a moment, every hope and dream from the past 3 years died with Jesus on that cross. They all ran away – some even denying they know Jesus at all.
For the religious leaders – they wanted to ensure victory that Jesus stayed dead and none of the disciples tried to steal or move the body. The grave of Jesus was sealed shut so that it could not be opened and guards were placed in front to prevent anyone from tampering with the grave.
For Jesus – he was at work, even in death. The payment for our wrongs against God and one another is separation from God, both spiritually and physically. Spiritually, we are separated because as sinners we cannot be in the presence of a holy God. Physically, we are separated because physical death is the stinging fangs of the serpent – Satan (Revelation 1:18). By dying on the cross, Jesus stood in our place of spiritual separation. It is here, on Saturday – as the disciples despair and the religious secure Jesus’ death – that Jesus is defanging the serpent by defeating death and overcoming the cost of our physical death (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).
When the dark night of the soul is at it’s deepest despair – know that God is still at work for your good.
APPLICATION & PRAYER
Consider a time in your life when God seemed distant and your troubles were overwhelming. The story we tell tell ourselves is that we were abandoned or forgotten. In truth, when we make our bed in the depths of despair – God is there (Psalm 139). Even the deepest of darknesses are not dark to Jesus. He will burst forth in the light of day.
File this truth away for the next dark night of the soul – God is still present and at work, even when you cannot see him.