The Tomb: That’s where Christ was on this day.
And it was deathly silent.
It was Saturday. The Jewish Sabbath. So no work would be done from sunset the night before until sunset this night. That is why there was such a rush to have Jesus prepared for burial and placed into the tomb by sunset Friday night (when the Sabbath officially would begin).
Sabbath was a sacred time set apart for contemplation and complete rest for God’s chosen people.
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.
MOMENT TO CATCH:
Ironically, on this day of rest, the Jewish leaders, who should have been at home resting, were anything but quiet. They held a secret meeting and were strategizing…
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.
Thot for today:
The men who schemed to kill Jesus knew He had powers. They were terrified He would rise. How interesting that they thought a stone could keep Him, the Creator of the Universe, in a grave. Do you have that same understanding and belief in that same power Christ holds?
But back to Stone-Cold Saturday…
Not a sound was heard from the tomb. But Sunday was coming…
S.
