“Jesus is buried in the Tomb” by Tom Sieger Koder
Holy Saturday. The day that’s almost entirely unrecounted in the Scriptures, and often overlooked by the Church as well. And it makes sense, doesn’t it? The dark day of Holy Saturday is overshadowed by the trauma and spectacle of Jesus’ crucifixion on one hand, and the incredulous, stunning turn of His resurrection on the other. It’s the silent partner in the period known as the Paschal Triduum, or the sacred three days of Easter.
The Scriptures tell us almost nothing of the events of the day, at least, nothing of what the experience of the disciples was. We get accounts of what happened before and after. Of the day itself, all that we’re told is that the women rested, as it was the Sabbath, and Roman guards were stationed at Jesus’ tomb. Everything else is speculation.
But we can sure imagine what it must have been like. Anyone who has endured shocking, crippling trauma knows that the morning after such an event brings a dark sunrise indeed. In the moment of loss, and even the immediate aftermath, shock ensues. Rationalizations. Disbelief. Even hope taunts us… Maybe things aren’t what they seem. Maybe we’re in the middle of a terrible nightmare that will dissipate as soon as we wake up. But the next morning, the day after, is devastating. Desolation. The sun rises on a stark reality that loss hasn’t been reversed. Hope dies another death with the sound of yet another unwelcome rooster crowing.
We followers of Christ know what comes next. His first followers did not. There is no mention of them doubling down in anticipation of resurrection. No eye winking exchange took place between Christ on the cross and those few who stayed present. If the disciples were full of faith and bravado and earnest prayer for the resurrection of Jesus, surely we’d have heard about it. Their world fell apart so completely that even in the face of real and mounting proofs of resurrection, they could hardly bring themselves to believe. Peter resisted. Mary didn’t see at first. Cleopas missed it. And of course, doubting Thomas who – if history gives any indication – wasn’t an outlier but the norm.
For us, no sooner have we left our Good Friday service before we begin anticipating Resurrection Sunday (both the service and the family plans). But the calendar leaves a gap. Space. The waiting of Holy Saturday is DIFFERENT from the waiting we are invited into in Advent. Advent waiting is anticipation. Holy Saturday waiting isn’t really waiting at all. Instead, it’s living inside of grief, disappointment, loss, trauma.
What is your Holy Saturday reality today? What parts of your life have forgotten the prophetic words of Christ, who literally said that he would “…go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” – Matthew 16:21?
It turns out that Resurrection only counts if Jesus genuinely died. Good Friday was no stunt. The Gospel meaningfully faltered in the hearts of its first hearers. It only matters if it all went to ash, for real. Today, on this Holy Saturday, let’s take a moment to hold space for the hard places. And tomorrow? That’s in God’s hands.
Kris MacQueen is a longtime worship leader, songwriter, recording artist, and former pastor. Kris carries a passion to connect, equip and nurture artists and creatives in the Church and serves as the team lead for Vineyard Creative in Canada.