Passion Week: Holy Saturday

“The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, ‘Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while He was still alive, “After three days I will rise.” Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples go and steal Him away and tell the people, “He has risen from the dead,” and the last fraud will be worse than the first.’ Pilate said to them, ‘You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.’"—Matthew 27:62-65

He was dead. Hope was lost. The crucified Son was buried and the hopes of the disciples were buried with Him. One wonders what thoughts filled their minds the next day. Everything that they knew, loved, and hoped for was gone. The chief priests and the Pharisees were better theologians than the disciples. They came before Pilate with a request—have the tomb secured. They remembered Jesus saying that He would rise from the dead after three days. It’s curious to note that the disciples didn’t expect this, though they walked, talked, ate, sleep, and spent almost every waking moment with Jesus for the last three years. Their understanding was clouded, and it wouldn’t be until after the resurrection that everything Jesus had taught them would make sense.

It was the time in-between, when hope had been pushed under the proverbial water but not yet come to float. It was the time when the hammer of truth shaped the sword of faith. And it was the time when fallen man tried to thwart the plan and purpose of Almighty God.

Men may try and disprove or even try and stop Christ, but all of our attempts are futile. God cannot be stopped any more than an ant can stop a tsunami. The chief priests and Pharisees seemed to show more faith than the disciples, although theirs was misdirected. They vainly believed that the disciples would steal the body and plant the rumor that He was alive. They understood that if that were to happen, then “the last fraud will be worse than the first.” So they requested a group of soldiers be stationed at the tomb to keep the disciples from stealing Him. Pilate acquiesced to their request and agreed to provide some soldiers to guard the tomb. But the soldiers didn’t need to guard against someone breaking into the tomb—they needed to try to keep Him from getting out!

Jesus did rise from the dead. The Jewish leadership couldn’t stop Him. Glorious Rome couldn’t stop Him. Sin couldn’t stop Him. Not even death could stop Him. One day later He would rise and turn the world upside down.

As we look forward to celebrating His resurrection tomorrow morning, let’s pause and thank God for His indescribable gift:

Father God, we are thankful that You sent Your Son to die for us. And we thank You that He rose from the dead! Thank You for forgiveness and thank You for the new life and hope that we have in Jesus Christ! The old is passing away and the new has come! May You be praised both now and forevermore! Amen.