Saturday Story Time – What Happened on Saturday?

“I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day . . .” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4)

As uncomfortable as it is for Jesus to have experienced the crucifixion and then death, it is equally awkward to know that he endured the pains of death on what the church has termed as Holy Saturday. He stayed dead. He waited for Sunday to arrive.

Jesus knew this time table when he predicted his death, “Just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will be the Son of Man in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40) Notice he did not say that He would be instantly in heaven. He would experience the isolation, the loneliness, the separation of light and life, the darkness of no hope. Death had thought it experienced its victory. On Saturday, its grip of hopelessness was still strong.

God doesn’t want us to bypass Saturday too quickly. On Saturday we relate to the despair that Jesus experienced. Having to wait. Having to sit in darkness longer than we want. Having to be separated from the ones we love. Having our dreams squashed. Having to wait for the promises of “what’s next” to be fulfilled. Silence of the one more thing we wish we could have said.

• Saturday reminds us that things can appear that they have gone off the rails. God is still moving on the worst day of your life. God’s plan will continue in your life through your Saturday into Sunday.
• Saturday reminds us that sorrow may last for a moment, but joy comes in the morning.  Sorrow cries tears from our emotions tilling the soul of our heart for hope and joy to grow.
• Saturday reminds us that waiting is grafted in the human experience. Mothers wait 9 months for their baby to arrive. Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. He lay in the grave on the Sabbath day of rest.
• Saturday reminds us that Jesus relates to our sorrow of the death of loved ones. He experienced life, death, burial and the grave. He comforts us in all of our afflictions.

Through Saturday, Sunday becomes more alive. Christ is risen, takes on a whole new meaning. He grabs death by the throat and says, “the fear of you is finished.”

On this Holy Saturday, may you pause and hear the voice of God again. He brings light into your darkness. He brings hope of a tomorrow that you are not experiencing today. He loves you right where you are, and not where you think you should have been. 

Let the peace of God settle over you. Let the warmth of His continued care cover you. Let His light shine the path for your next step out of the darkness you have been living in.

Hallelujah, what a Savior. He is for you, always.

Blessings Love y’all