Silent Saturday

Easter Saturday…

Good Friday – Jesus died.

Easter Sunday – He rose.

But Saturday…

…what about Saturday? 

I mean, we think about it from this side of the Resurrection.

We know what happened.

We know that Saturday wasn’t the end.

But back then?

What about that Saturday?

Imagine Jesus’ followers…

Grief weighing heavy on them.

Broken. Stricken. Mourning.

Joyless.

Hopeless.

Devastated.

The events of the previous day vivid in their minds.

Emotionally wrenched apart.

Questions. Frustrations. Anger.

It was supposed to be the Sabbath. I mean, it was the Sabbath….

…but there was no Sabbath celebration that day.

No enjoying God’s rest.

No delighting in God’s provision.

This was no day of soul-refreshment.

This was darkness. Heaviness. Grief.

Thick grief.

Raw grief.

“God, where are you in this?”

“God, we trusted you.”

“God, all I hear is your silence.”

Folks, can I suggest two thoughts for Silent Saturday.

 One: Use the silence….the ‘in-between’ time…to bring your questions…your frustrations…your despair…your darkness…your grief….your hurts…..to God.

Don’t rush the silence.

Linger there a while.

And when you’re done lingering, yes, walk out in resurrection hope.

Absolutely.

But first, enter into the silence. 

Two: Understand that whilst for the disciples this was the worst Sabbath day ever, in fact, this was the culmination of all Sabbaths….this was Sabbath fulfilment.

Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. Ex. 20:9)

Remember Jesus’ cry towards the end of that sixth day?

‘It is finished.’ (John 19:30).

‘With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.’.

Job done.

Work complete.

He was finished.

So that Saturday…the Sabbath…what was Jesus doing?

He was resting.

God rested. 

So Easter Sunday….

…it’s the first day of the new week.

The first day of the new creation.

The first day of new life.

The first day of a new reality. 

Get ready to celebrate.

Get ready to proclaim new life.

But first, enter into the silence.

Enter into the rest.

Enter into Silent Saturday.

(p.s. check out Andrew Peterson’s song, God Rested)