Holy Week. Day 7. Saturday. (The Jewish Sabbath)
In the grave.
That’s where Christ was on this day. Stone cold. Deathly silent.
It was the Sabbath. No work would be done. A day of complete rest for God’s chosen people. Thus, the rush to have Jesus prepared for burial and placed in the tomb by sunset Friday night when the Sabbath officially would begin.
Luke 23:54-56
It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
Meanwhile, back at the the roman palace, the Jewish leaders, who should have been resting and worshiping at home, were anything but quiet…
Matt. 27:62-66
¶ Now on the next day, the day after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate, and said, “Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I am to rise again.’ “Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, otherwise His disciples may come and steal Him away and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.”
Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.”
And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone.
and…
Matt. 28:11-15 “Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ “And if this should come to the governor’s ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble.”
And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day.”
They knew Jesus had powers. They were terrified He would rise. How interesting that they thought a stone would keep Him, the Creator of the Universe, in the grave.
Not a sound was heard from the tomb. But Sunday was coming…
S.
Verses for Today:
Matt 27:62-66
Luke 23:56
And for extra credit, you studious types can enjoy these!
1 Peter 3:18-33 and 4:6
Apostles’ Creed
