Holy Saturday

Read all of 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 guard¹ 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.

This is often a fairly somber and silent day in the Holy Week. Scripture doesn’t say much specifically about it. And rightfully so. It’s shrouded in mystery. It’s full of suspense. It is the painful ‘in between’ filled with anguish, sadness and many ‘what if’ questions…

What’s staggering is that even after His death – the Jewish leaders are still worried and threatened by Jesus. They were obsessed – as He still seemed to live ‘rent free in their heads’. So they plan and plot to make sure He stayed dead and buried. Secured and guarded. But we know how that turned out in the end… Because God has the last word.

• Do you ever feel like God just can’t relate to your silent anguish, your fears and questions? He does and you can talk to Him in prayer!
• Do you feel frustratingly impatient and are tempted to give up on waiting for God’s breakthrough? Don’t! It may be just your silent Saturday, before the resurrection Sunday!
• Do you ever feel like people’s evil schemes are ‘burying you’ and you won’t be able to escape? Don’t despair – God is a deliverer!