Yesterday, we remembered the profound sacrifice of Good Friday, the weight of the cross, and the fading breath of our Savior. Today, the world holds its breath. It's a day the liturgical calendar calls Silent Saturday.
Silence. It hangs heavy in the air, doesn't it? Scripture itself offers a quiet account of this day. Matthew tells us of the religious leaders, anxious even in their apparent victory, petitioning Pilate for guards at the tomb.
Matthew 27:62-66 NIV [62] The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. [63] “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ [64] So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” [65] “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” [66] So they made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.
Fear, even in those who thought they had silenced truth, lingered.
But the deeper silence resides in the reality of that sealed tomb. The body of Jesus, lifeless, lay within. The vibrant voice that preached hope, healed the sick, and challenged the powerful was now still. Death had seemingly cast the final, crushing word.
Imagine the disciples on this day. Where were their hearts?
Mark 14:44-50 NIV [44] Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” [45] Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. [46] The men seized Jesus and arrested him. [47] Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. [48] “Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? [49] Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” [50] Then everyone deserted him and fled. (emphasis mine)
Judas, consumed by the enormity of his betrayal, had already met his own tragic end.
Matthew 27:3-5 NIV [3] When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. [4] “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” [5] So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
Peter, the rock, was shattered, the echo of his three denials a constant torment.
Matthew 26:75 NIV Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
John, fulfilling Jesus' last request, held vigil over Mary, a shared sorrow binding them.
John 19:26-27 NIV [26] When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” [27] and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
The others scattered like sheep, their hopes dashed, the past three years feeling like a cruel illusion. Doubt, fear, and a profound sense of loss undoubtedly filled their hearts.
The Jewish religious leaders celebrated their triumph, eager for life to return to "normal"—a normal where the unsettling presence of Jesus was no more. The masses, perhaps, already turned their attention to the next flicker of hope, the next potential savior, destined, likely, for the same cycle of adoration and abandonment.
The world on that Silent Saturday had no hope. Sin held its dominion, death reigned unchallenged. The memory of Jesus, his radical love, his powerful teachings, his astonishing miracles, seemed destined to fade, a mere footnote in history.
If Saturday was the end of the story, then our faith, our hope, crumbles. There would be no bridge across the chasm of our sin, no promise of eternity, just the fleeting shadow of our earthly existence. Those who truly grasped the implications of Jesus' death on that silent Saturday were the ones who were in the deepest despair.
1 Corinthians 15:12-19 NIV [12] But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? [13] If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. [14] And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. [15] More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. [16] For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. [17] And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. [18] Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. [19] If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
Silent Saturday was a day draped in darkness. But we know the familiar adage: it’s
always darkest before the dawn. And nowhere was that darkness more profound than within the cold confines of that tomb. Yet, as the faintest hues of light began to paint the eastern sky on Sunday morning, a tremor ran through that darkness. The stillness was broken by a rustling, a stirring. The grave clothes, meant to bind death, now lay empty.
Matthew 28:5-7 NIV [5] The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. [6] He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. [7] Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
Mark 16:6-7 NIV [6] “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. [7] But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ”
Luke 24:5-8 NIV [5] In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? [6] He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: [7] ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” [8] Then they remembered his words.
The promise whispered in hushed tones throughout Jesus' ministry was about to erupt into glorious, life-altering reality. The dawn was coming.
HE ROSE!!
Silence. It hangs heavy in the air, doesn't it? Scripture itself offers a quiet account of this day. Matthew tells us of the religious leaders, anxious even in their apparent victory, petitioning Pilate for guards at the tomb.
Matthew 27:62-66 NIV [62] The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. [63] “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ [64] So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” [65] “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” [66] So they made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.
Fear, even in those who thought they had silenced truth, lingered.
But the deeper silence resides in the reality of that sealed tomb. The body of Jesus, lifeless, lay within. The vibrant voice that preached hope, healed the sick, and challenged the powerful was now still. Death had seemingly cast the final, crushing word.
Imagine the disciples on this day. Where were their hearts?
Mark 14:44-50 NIV [44] Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” [45] Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. [46] The men seized Jesus and arrested him. [47] Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. [48] “Am I leading a rebellion,” said Jesus, “that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? [49] Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.” [50] Then everyone deserted him and fled. (emphasis mine)
Judas, consumed by the enormity of his betrayal, had already met his own tragic end.
Matthew 27:3-5 NIV [3] When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. [4] “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” [5] So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
Peter, the rock, was shattered, the echo of his three denials a constant torment.
Matthew 26:75 NIV Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
John, fulfilling Jesus' last request, held vigil over Mary, a shared sorrow binding them.
John 19:26-27 NIV [26] When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” [27] and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
The others scattered like sheep, their hopes dashed, the past three years feeling like a cruel illusion. Doubt, fear, and a profound sense of loss undoubtedly filled their hearts.
The Jewish religious leaders celebrated their triumph, eager for life to return to "normal"—a normal where the unsettling presence of Jesus was no more. The masses, perhaps, already turned their attention to the next flicker of hope, the next potential savior, destined, likely, for the same cycle of adoration and abandonment.
The world on that Silent Saturday had no hope. Sin held its dominion, death reigned unchallenged. The memory of Jesus, his radical love, his powerful teachings, his astonishing miracles, seemed destined to fade, a mere footnote in history.
If Saturday was the end of the story, then our faith, our hope, crumbles. There would be no bridge across the chasm of our sin, no promise of eternity, just the fleeting shadow of our earthly existence. Those who truly grasped the implications of Jesus' death on that silent Saturday were the ones who were in the deepest despair.
1 Corinthians 15:12-19 NIV [12] But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? [13] If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. [14] And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. [15] More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. [16] For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. [17] And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. [18] Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. [19] If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
Silent Saturday was a day draped in darkness. But we know the familiar adage: it’s
always darkest before the dawn. And nowhere was that darkness more profound than within the cold confines of that tomb. Yet, as the faintest hues of light began to paint the eastern sky on Sunday morning, a tremor ran through that darkness. The stillness was broken by a rustling, a stirring. The grave clothes, meant to bind death, now lay empty.
Matthew 28:5-7 NIV [5] The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. [6] He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. [7] Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
Mark 16:6-7 NIV [6] “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. [7] But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ”
Luke 24:5-8 NIV [5] In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? [6] He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: [7] ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” [8] Then they remembered his words.
The promise whispered in hushed tones throughout Jesus' ministry was about to erupt into glorious, life-altering reality. The dawn was coming.
HE ROSE!!
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