Day 7: SILENT SATURDAY
Scripture
LUKE 23:44-56
It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
Devotion
What a silent and eerie night. Jesus has been killed and his disciples had remained silent. We read in Luke 23 that his followers stayed in the distance, watching.
What do you think was going through their minds? Can you imagine how nature must have responded when the sun stopped shining? The birds and animals probably went silent too. So many people stood in silence right after they had just been cheering for the death of Jesus. The earth shook and the veil was torn. The veil was not a dainty delicate fabric. It was very large, requiring over 100 priests to move it. The signs and wonders that took place at His death were enough to have people question what they had once believed. We read “the centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, surely this was the righteous man.” (Luke 23:47) We read that those who witnessed the death, “they beat their breast and walked away.” Imagine them hitting their breasts, with instant regret, a guilt so heavy that they couldn’t contain and thus had to physically display it.
It doesn’t seem like anyone understood what Jesus came to do even though He talked about fulfilling the prophecies. His death represented so much more than they could possibly understand. His body laid in a tomb, but that was not the silent end to his earthly existence.
While all seemed eerie and lonely from Jesus’ absence, He was on the move, as He always is in our midst.
We have the privilege to experience this radical love. This selfless act of love was the price paid for you and me to have everlasting life with Him. He paid for all our sins, and the ones to come. While we sometimes might feel utterly alone in our everyday struggles (regret, disbelief, fear, etc.), or due to our own sins or those done against us, we truly are not. He left us the comforter, the helper, the Holy Spirit to minister to us. We have the living word speaking to us as we read the Bible. He never misses the chance to be with us and to forgive our transgressions.
Our heaven-bound journey isn’t easy, but sacrificially through our obedience we are seen, sanctified, and saved.
Question for reflection
Is there an area in my life that God seems absent from but through the eyes of faith I can actually discern his activity?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, Thank you for your unfailing love for us. Thank you that your plan for us is good. Thank you that your promises are true. Help us to understand as we read your word and renew our hearts. Help us to seek you in everything we do. That we would live a life that glorifies your name no matter our circumstances for you are our firm foundation and our good father. For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
written by Yaneth Hernandez
———
Family Devotional
Silent Saturday: Luke 23:55-56
Ask your kids when was a time that it was really hard to wait for something? How did it feel to wait?
Explain to your kids that even though Jesus had predicted his death and promised that he would rise again it was hard for his friends to believe this. When Jesus was buried it felt like it was all over. It was really hard to wait for God to do what He had promised to do but that doesn’t mean God isn’t going to keep his promises. He is still faithful.
Pray together as a family that we would have faith even when God seems silent.
As an activity consider preparing cookies or something other fun treat to enjoy together on Easter as a celebration. You can dub these resurrection cookies. After the cookies are prepared put them in the oven or the ‘tomb.’ Then you can station a guard (you can use a toy or a Christmas nutcracker or something else creative) in front of the tomb to watch over it. Be sure that when your kids go to bed they know the resurrection cookies are still in the tomb. When they wake up you can show them the tomb is empty and the treats can be enjoyed sometime that day.