Saturday: The Tomb
That’s where Christ was on this day.
Saturday. In the grave.
Saturday was the Jewish Sabbath. 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 began).
Sabbath was a sacred time set apart for contemplation and complete rest for God’s chosen people. (Luke 23:54-56)
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. Is there an immovable situation or object in your life that you feel hopeless about? If you can work to find the understanding and belief in that same power Christ held that blew that stone off the next morning.
But back to Stone-Cold Saturday…
Not a sound was heard from the tomb. But Sunday was coming…
S.