A Great Silence and Stillness
Today is Holy Saturday. Silent Saturday. This is the darkest and strangest moment in human history when, for an entire day, Jesus Himself lay dead in the tomb. On this day in history, the earth was silent, the earth waited, desperate, fearing that all was lost, that everything they hoped for had been crucified on the cross that preceding day. The tragedy was heavy.
“When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph,
(The Gospel According to Matthew 27: 57-61 NASB)
who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus.
This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him.
And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock;
and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away.
And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the grave.”
During Jesus’ earthly lifetime, countless people had come to Him with requests for healing, for food, for forgiveness, for answers. Yet, on this day, Jesus was silent—Dead. For those present there on that day, the day after the cross and crucifixion, there is absolutely no reason and nothing to be gained from coming to Jesus. In fact, in coming to the tomb, there is great risk to show oneself as a follower of the man Jesus, the one who the Roman soldiers had crucified on the day before, on Friday.
This day was somber, and we may ask:
- What happened that day on earth?
- What stopped or paused on that day—while the King of kings slept in death?
As we reread Matthew’s account and are reminded of the devotion of Joseph, of Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, there is something that stirs deep within us. Notice how Joseph lovingly tended to Jesus’ corpse. For the watching world, the Hope seems lost, for the eternal fountain is hidden and dark. The blood of Jesus ceased to flow as Joseph of Arimathea wrapped Jesus’ dead body in the clean, linen cloth and placed the body inside the new tomb. The magnitude is so great as we consider how Joseph had previously taken tools and carved out the rock, preparing the tomb for a future day when someone he loved would need to be placed there. As he carved, we wonder: Did God give Joseph a sense of urgency to prepare the tomb? What did Joseph feel as he carved? & As Joseph carried the dead body of Jesus to that new tomb, as he lovingly placed the dead body inside on the rock ledge, did he sense worship in his heart?
Sometimes, we find it easy to worship in life and everything in it is wonderful. Yet, there are times, when our hopes, when our dreams, have been dashed, even destroyed. In the great times of life, it’s easy to be faithful, walking with Jesus when our faith makes sense. However, in the dark times, when our faith seems low, when the cares of life have sucked our breath from our lungs, we might be tempted to walk away, to leave our faith. When things just don’t make sense and events or others break our hearts, when God seems distance, or even gone, dead, we ask: What now?
Silent Saturday is meant for waiting, for reflection, for hope. Do not glance over this day, for the silence of Jesus was meant to be extremely loud. Lean in. Trust. Remarkably, Jesus did not command 70,000 angels to attend to Him on the cross before His death. Also, notably so—Jesus did not come back on the second day, but the third day.
The Son of God had not left them, and God has not left us. When we are in the seasons of waiting, when we have prayed and waited and prayed some more, but all seems lost,
- May we: Put our faith and trust in God.
- May we: Be patient.
- May we: Not let go.
- May we: Be faithful. &
- May we: Recall how the Lord is always right here, with us.
On this Holy Day, let us not rush God’s timing in the things we are waiting upon, even when it hurts to wait, for the LORD GOD IS FAITHFUL. Waiting time is not waisted time. Delay is not denial. We have read God’s Word, and we know the truth: The Lord will never leave nor forsake you or me.
It is well with our souls, even as we wait and even during the times of great silence and stillness.
“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.
(The Letter of James 5:7-8 NASB)
The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it,
until it gets the early and late rains.
You too be patient;
strengthen your hearts,
for the coming of the Lord is near.”
As I close, the melody “Living Water” by Sam Wesley speaks to my soul. Let us consider EXACTLY what we have received through our faith in the crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Wash over us, Lord.
- Remind us on this Holy Day to be patient.
Help us never forget:
GOD rolled away the stone from the tomb! &
YOU walked out of the grave—ALIVE!
LORD JESUS, YOU have not forgotten us—EVER!
YOU have promised how YOU are ALWAYS HERE with us!
Despite what the world shouts—YOU, LORD JESUS, ARE COMING BACK TO EARTH—AGAIN!