Nothing is written about Holy Saturday, but the silence speaks. Peter is sitting and grieving his three-time denial of knowing Jesus — denying Him outright in public. The other disciples are grieved and sorrowful over their fear-driven abandonment of Jesus as they fell away during His arrest (Matt. 26:31). John is now caring for the mother of his dead Lord, tending to her sorrow caused by a sword piercing her own soul watching her Son’s death (Luke 2:35). John suffers his own grief over the death of the Lord who loved him. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea had completed their own silent, confusing, grief-filled work of burying Jesus’ body in Joseph’s tomb (John 19:38-39). Guards, fearful of the unknown, were posted to protect it.
The silence of Saturday is the day we all live. It is the day between — salvation has been carried out — full redemption is yet to come. We are one with Christ, but creation still groans waiting for redemption. We walk in victory and we also taste defeat. We experience joy but find ourselves grieving and sorrowful.
No one escapes grief, sorrow, and the painful realities of waiting for full redemption. Jesus now carries us through all our suffering. Take time in the silence of Saturday and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you your suffering, your grieving, the pain of life that ever ceases to capture you. Get acquainted with your grief and your sorrow, and let the resurrection bring life to you in it.
What recently has caused you grief, sorrow, pain?