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Over the course of Jesus’ ministry his disciples and followers slowly began to truly believe that he was the Messiah. Their hope and boldness had grown as they walked with Jesus: watching him perform miracles, raise people from the dead, and teach with an authority they had never experienced before. But the strength of their belief faded on Saturday. Jesus, the one they believed to be their Messiah, was dead.
We know very little about what occurred on Saturday. The only piece of information recorded in the text is a snapshot of a conversation between the chief priest, the Pharisees, and Pilate captured in Matthew 27:62-66. This exchange, albeit brief, is critical to the story as it records the plan among the leaders to station a soldier at the tomb to guard it from grave robbers who might attempt to steal the body as an attempt by Jesus’ disciples to fulfill his words about raising after the third day. The religious leaders feared the disciples would steal the body and proclaim that Jesus had risen so as to start an uprising. (Ironically, this decision to have a soldier stand guard actually serves to verify the resurrection that they feared would be falsified).
Other than this, the Bible leaves us in silence on Saturday.
Read Matthew 27:62-66 >>
As we have the benefit of having the entire Bible and knowing how the story ends, it can be very difficult for us today to fully appreciate and empathize with the pain and sadness likely felt by the followers of Jesus on Saturday. But if you have ever lost a loved one, you do know what it is like to experience the finality of physical death. You have had to sit with your grief and your confusion. You’ve likely wrestled with anger, frustration, or disbelief that God would allow this to happen. The day after loss is filled with many emotions and it is likely that the disciples of Jesus were experiencing all of these.
The day after the crucifixion challenges us to reflect on the stillness of Jesus in the tomb.
• Consider a moment in your life when you have felt like God was silent. How did you feel?
• In moments of disbelief or frustration with God, how have you moved forward?
• Is there something you are “in waiting” for from God?
• What does the stillness of the tomb on Saturday have to say to you today?
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