Today is Holy Saturday, a day of mourning and reflection for Christians around the world. This day marks the day that Jesus rested in his tomb after his crucifixion. Although we know very little about what happened during this day, it is a significant day in the Christian faith because it is a day of rest and hope.
The Significance of Holy Saturday
On Holy Saturday, Jesus lay buried in his tomb. It was a Sabbath day, a day of rest for faithful Jews. The religious leaders were worried that Jesus' disciples might try to steal his body and pretend he rose from the dead, so they asked the Roman governor to post guards at Jesus' tomb to prevent any false resurrections. Not much else is known about what happened on this particular Saturday.
However, this lack of information may be part of the day's significance. Jesus is dead because nothing is supposed to happen. There are no more miracles to be done, no more Jewish laws to fulfill, no more sin to atone for, and no more powers to fight. On the cross, Jesus said, "It is finished." Everything Jesus came to do, he did. So with nothing left to accomplish, Jesus rested. At the very least, this means we can rest too. If Jesus rested knowing there was nothing left to do in order to save his people, we can rest knowing that Jesus has done everything to make us his people.
Resting in Hope
One of Jesus' ancestors, King David, wrote about resting in hope. He said, "my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your faithful one see decay." God had once promised David that his dynasty would last forever, and even after he rested in death, God would raise one of his sons to rule God's people forever. David was confident that God would preserve, protect, and provide for his dynasty even through and beyond death. He knew that his death would not be the end of his dynasty or God's promises.
On this Holy Saturday, we can rest in hope as well. Jesus' day in the tomb reminds us that we will all know death. We will watch the death of our loved ones. Eventually, we will all fall asleep one last time. But Holy Saturday is good news because Jesus announces that death is never more than a nap. In Jesus, death is a day of rest before the dawn of a new creation and a much-needed break before a new era of renewed and resurrection life.
Action Items
On this Holy Saturday, we can take comfort in the fact that Jesus has done everything to make us his people. We can rest in the hope that death is not the end, but a new beginning. Here are a few action items to help you reflect on this day:
- Take time to rest. Use this day as an opportunity to slow down and take a break from your usual routine.
- Reflect on the promises of God. Spend time reading the Bible and meditating on the promises that God has made to his people.
- Pray for those who are mourning. Holy Saturday is a day of mourning, so take time to pray for those who have lost loved ones.
- Remember the hope of the resurrection. Use this day to reflect on the hope that we have in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Remember that death is not the end, but a new beginning.
