Holy Week Guide | Saturday
/
Saturday
MATTHEW 27:57-61
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb
The dream was dead. The One whom they hoped would usher in the Kingdom of God and set them free from their enemies had breathed his last. The text wants us to feel the dramatic reality of Jesus’ death. He really died. Pilate confirmed it. Then he handed over “the body” to Joseph of Arimathea who wrapped Jesus’ body in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb. Furthermore, he lays him in his OWN tomb. Both Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Joses, saw the location of this tomb. These are eyewitness accounts, claims written at a time when other eyewitnesses were still alive who could corroborate them. We are reading verifiable history. Jesus of Nazareth died and was buried and with Him the hopes of this world.
We have to feel the weight of this fact if we hope for Easter Sunday to thrill us. Jesus told his disciples in John 16:20 (ESV), “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.”
Jesus followers would go through this time of lament and anguish, but joy was on the other side. Jesus told them that resurrection was coming, but it’s easy to doubt when you are sitting in the darkness of death. Isn’t this what the life of faith is like? It is often sitting in pain and in a darkness that feels like death, yet trusting in the God of Resurrection. Trusting that light will dawn. Trusting that God gets the last word, not death and not darkness.
APPLICATION
On this sacred Saturday, are you sitting in the shadow of death? Are you in a season of sorrow? Are you experiencing the death of a dream? Are you losing heart? Hear the Psalmist, “Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning,” (Psalm 30:5 NASB). God is the God of resurrection. Wait on Him. Trust in Him.
PRAYER
O God, you are the God of light and life. Just as you did not abandon Your Son to suffer corruption in the grave, you will not abandon us. You will work all things together for our good. You have only good in your heart for your children. Even as we sit in our darkest days, we can feel the warmth of your light dawning. Sorrow will turn to joy. That is the kind of God you are. We will not fear. Amen.
FAMILY DEVOTIONAL
THINK
Death is hard to understand and always leaves a painful sting in your heart. Have you ever lost someone that you love – a friend, a grandparent, or even a family pet? If so, then you’ve probably felt deep sadness and hurt that seemed like it would never go away. It doesn’t matter how young or old you are when you lose someone you love, it hurts. But God’s love helps to ease the pain when our hearts are sad.
READ
MATTHEW 27:57-61
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb
Today we read about what happened to Jesus after He died. A man named Joseph asked permission from Pilate to take Jesus’ body from the cross. Joseph took great care in wrapping Jesus’ body with cloths and laid Him in a tomb. Then the Bible says that a huge stone was placed in front of the entrance to the tomb so that no one could enter. We can only imagine the pain and sadness that Jesus’ friends and family felt. They didn’t understand why Jesus had to die. They didn’t know about God’s great plan. The best was yet to come, and it was only three days away!
SAY
“Dear God, thank you for healing our hearts with your love. Amen.”
DO
Write a letter to or draw a picture for someone you love.