Holy Saturday: Now What?

Every year on “Holy Saturday,” I wonder what Jesus was doing.

We finished Good Friday with a somber Tenebrae service, which usually leaves me silent and reflective.

I know the hallelujahs, white lilies and terrific music of Easter Sunday are coming.

(Along with breaking my annual chocolate fast with . . .  plenty).

But Holy Saturday catches me with melancholy surprise, plus lots of cooking.

What happened on Holy Saturday nearly 2000 years ago?

The Romans

At least one Roman centurion had concluded Jesus must have been God.

He may have spent Saturday reviewing what he saw and wondering “what next?”

Others ran about with Jesus’ ragged clothing, their winnings from a dice game.

Pontius Pilate probably received reports of odd events–the Pharisees in disarray, the unexpected eclipse of the day before and peculiar stories of zombies.

Mrs. Pilate may have walked through the day with a worried frown and bitter glares at her husband for not paying attention to her advice.

Or maybe they were all drunk?

Several soldiers guarded the tomb.

The Pharisees

It was the Sabbath so the Jews laid low.

They had laws about how far they could walk, what they could eat, what they could not do.

Most required them to stay close to home.

But the Pharisee authorities were dealing with a monumental catastrophe.

Forget Jesus, as if they could, what were they going to do about the temple?

The thick curtain separating the holy of holies from the courtyard was torn in half, top to bottom.

God’s most sacred spot was exposed to anyone who wanted to look at Him.

What could they do?

They couldn’t repair it on the Sabbath, and this one included Passover.

The temple courtyard thronged with worshippers.

But those authorized to enter the temple couldn’t be allowed in–what would they say about the curtain?

That sniveling Judas, the cause of all the latest trouble, had killed himself.

“Collect his bribe and toss his carcass in a pauper’s grave.” Easy.

At least the man at the heart of their problems, Jesus, was dead.

The Disciples

Joseph of Arimathea and a few others hastily entombed Jesus the late afternoon before–prior to the Sabbath.

As it was the Sabbath, they could do nothing but gather together.

Their emotions must have been a scramble that Holy Saturday–how could Jesus, their beloved rabbi, be dead?

They knew to worship the God of Creation.

They would have said their usual prayers, sang songs, remembered God’s mercies, and grieved.

When the official worship time concluded and they broke for a meal, they would have told stories about Jesus.

They tried to make sense of what happened and debated what Jesus meant by his statements.

“I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.” (John 14:16)

“I will not leave you orphans.” (John 14:18)

“A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.” (John 14:19)

“The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” (John 14:26)

^” Peace I leave with you. . . . Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

^” You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.” (John 14:28)

They may not have understood, but they knew to give their anguish and their confusion to God.

Perhaps they said the prayers of the dead for Jesus, sitting shiva?

The women followers knew Jesus’ body needed to be better prepared and thus discussed plans for early the next morning.

Mary, Jesus’ mother?

Mary had pondered God’s words long in her heart. She had lived for 33 years trusting God for the seemingly impossible.

I’ll bet she waited and pondered on Holy Saturday.

Jesus himself?

The Christian Church has two thoughts on Jesus’ Holy Saturday location.

Peter’s epistle is the only Scriptural verse:

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison,  who formerly were disobedient.” (1 Peter 3:18-20)

Theories abound as to what Peter meant.

The “conventional” Christian thought takes us to the Apostle’s Creed:

  “He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell.”

That’s where I think Jesus was on Holy Saturday, showing himself to those who died in faith long before– those who had longed to see the day God defeated sin.

What was Jesus doing in Sheol, a waiting place for those eventually headed to heaven?

Bringing good news.

Beyond that, I am not wise enough to say more.

God?

Waiting for glorification the very next day.

The Holy Spirit, of course, was already on His way.

Easter is coming and Jesus will rise.

The very best news.

Tweetables

What was Jesus doing on Holy Saturday? Click to Tweet

Holy Saturday in Jerusalem, AD 33. Click to Tweet

Romans, Pharisees, Disciples, Jesus, and God experience Holy Saturday. Click to Tweet