Although Jesus was in the tomb on Holy Saturday, life continued to go on. And if you’re like me, you’re left wondering what that must’ve looked like.
The only Biblical reference to what occurred on Holy Saturday is recorded in Matthew 27. Aside from the religious leaders wanting to ensure that Jesus’ body remained secured in the tomb and soliciting Pilate’s help to post Roman sentries there to guard it, nothing else is recorded for that day.
“The next day, on the Sabbath, the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. They told him, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’ So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.” Pilate replied, “Take guards and secure it the best you can.” So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it.” – Matt 27:62-66
I think it’s safe to assume that the remaining eleven disciples were shacked up in a safe house somewhere in town, still reeling from everything that had occurred the day before. If so, I’m curious as to what their conversations must’ve been like. Just a few days earlier some of them were arguing about who among them was the greatest disciple. Now, I wonder if perhaps there might’ve been a new argument unfolding about who among them was the worst.
Judas’ name had to have come up at some point. Like some of us who’ve experienced betrayal by someone we once trusted, we ask ourselves questions like, “How could I not have known?” or “How did I not see this until now?” I wonder if they were saying similar things among each other. And what about Peter? Less than 48 hours earlier he vowed to Jesus that he would never desert him, but when it came time to man up – he chose to save himself. Overwhelmed with shame and sorrow? No doubt… just like the others. Everything they had invested, the teachings, the ministry, the lives that they had seen completely changed… all of that seemed lost now.
And what about Mary? I’m sure she knew the day was coming when Jesus would fulfill what he had come to do. But to see her son being mocked, whipped, spit on and beaten? And then watching him suffer on the cross? We can’t even begin to imagine the level of grief and sorrow she felt as his mother.
All of this is just a small glimpse of what that day might’ve been like. And not just for them really, but for a lot of other people too. Many had come to know Jesus and experienced his kindness, compassion, and his love.
As bad as Friday was for them, Saturday couldn’t have been much better. But we know something that they didn’t know at the time.
Sunday was coming.
Former Blackout Artist 