Holy Saturday

In the church today, there has been a lot of emphasis on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. However, very little is said about Saturday. What is the significance of it? Many segments of Christendom call this day Holy Saturday. For many of us Christians, however, it seems like another weekend to do our chores, spend time with friends and loved ones, and go out shopping. After all, the Easter Sale will end this weekend! But what is the significance of Holy Saturday?

We must first tackle this question - did Jesus die in a way every other human being died? The Apostles Creed states, “I believe in Jesus Christ… (He) was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into hell.” Also, the Westminster Larger Catechism has this to say - “Christ’s humiliation after His death consisted in Him being buried, and continuing in the state of the dead, and under the power of death till the third day.”

Although Jesus’s body was dead physically, His soul entered into the realm of the dead. He tasted death just like any other human being would have tasted it. Otherwise, He cannot be our great Advocate. There have been many questions concerning what happened to Christ on Holy Saturday, apart from Him being dead. A lot of these questions can lead to controversies and speculations, which can divide the church. Scripture has never emphasised on these things. The only thing Scripture focuses on is that Jesus truly died and remained dead on Holy Saturday. This, too, should be our only focus when talking about Holy Saturday.

I have often wondered what went through the disciples’ minds on this day. On one hand, they were struggling to come to terms with their own failure as His disciples. They had all forsaken Him. Peter denied Him, not once, but 3 times. They were probably in emotional turmoil or in a depressive state. They had seen with their own eyes that Jesus had died. With that went all hope they had to make Him the King of the Jews. None of them dared to entertain the thought of the possibility that His words may come true - that He would rise again on the 3rd day. And who would blame them? No one in human history had ever resurrected from the dead. All hope seemed lost.

We, too, can be like the disciples. We have seen with our own eyes the loss or damage we have experienced and we lose hope. Perhaps, you have seen your children walking away from the faith. Perhaps, you have experienced a broken marriage. Perhaps, you did not do well on your exams and lost all hope for the future. Perhaps you are diagnosed with a sickness that is incurable, and you start to lose hope.

In seasons like these, we may identify with the disciples. They acknowledged their situation as the only possible outcome for Saturday. Yet, they forget that they serve a God who does exceedingly more than we can ask or imagine! He is still at work behind the scenes. He has not forsaken them! Perhaps, you cannot see God’s hand at work in your life. In times like these, trust His heart and His character. He is still at work. Just like what we sing in church, “Even though I don’t see it, You’re working. Even though I don’t feel it, You’re working. You never stop working.” He is still at work in your life.

Therefore, don’t lose hope when all seems lost. Sometimes, the darkest part of the night happens just before the morning. Don’t lose hope… Sunday is coming!

Reflection

• Has God ever been silent in your life? Was it because you were unable to hear, or was it because He chose not to speak?
• How can hope be cultivated when we go through seasons in our lives where God seems silent? Should our hope be based on faith in God’s character or on God changing my situation?

Application

In seasons where God seems silent, create an environment of hope in your life. Don’t give in to fear and anxiousness. Rather, place your faith in who God is - He is a good father. Then, trust Him to do His will in your life.