HOLY SATURDAY

PROCLAMATION

“At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid.  Because it was the Jewish Day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.”  John 19:41-42 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

After Jesus, The Christ, said while hanging on the cross, ‘It is finished” (John 19:30) and “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit” (Luke 23:46) He bowed His head, gave up His spirit and died.  Because it was Preparation Day and the next day was the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies to be left on the crosses during the Sabbath.  When they found that Jesus was already dead, they did not break his legs. (John 19:31-33)  Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus and, accompanied by Nicodemus, they took the body away. (John 19:38-40)  They placed the body of Jesus in Joseph’s new unused tomb which had been carved out of stone. (Matthew 27:59-60) 

APPLICATION

With respect to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, The Christ, we know the events which happened on Good Friday and the events which occurred on Resurrection Sunday.  What is not clear is what happened on Saturday while the body of Jesus laid in the grave.  The Bible records that the apostle John, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God,  John  had a vision of Christ and was told to write down the things that he had seen during his out of body experience. (Revelation 1:10-19)  Jesus, The Christ, told John, “I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Revelation 1:18 (NIV)  I remember being taught that after He gave up His life on the cross, Jesus descended into hell and did something before He returned and rose early Sunday morning.  Jesus holds the keys to death and hell in His hands.  This speaks to the sovereignty, the power, and the authority of Christ over death and hell.  However, Jesus raised three individuals from death before He was crucified.  He raised Lazarus from the grave, (John 11:41-44) the synagogue leader’s daughter (Matthew 9:23-24) and the widow’s son. (Luke 7:11-15)  So, clearly Jesus had the power over death while He was alive on earth.  After He rose from the dead, He said that He has all power in heaven and earth. (Matthew 28:18)  I do not know what happen on that Holy Saturday but, as the song says, “We will understand it better, bye and bye.”  One day we will all be “… absent from the body …” and “… present with The Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8)  Until that day comes, I will pray, worship, and serve The Lord.