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A Prayer for Saturday of Holy Week

     The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” Matthew 27:62-64

     Jesus, as “Good Friday” gave way to silent Saturday, the range of emotions following your crucifixion was as broad as the Grand Canyon. Shock and sadness gripped the hearts of your disciples, family and friends. Yet many others were filled with glee and relief, that you, “the deceiver,” could no longer threaten their existence.

     As the sun rose on Saturday, no one had a clue that the most undeserved death imaginable would yield the greatest return calculable. As you were nailed to the cross, the written code—God’s law, with all its regulations and requirements, was taken far away from us, losing all condemning power over us. As you drew your last breath, you were actually disarming the powers of darkness and triumphing over all authorities marshaled against the reign of God (Colossians 2:14-15). We praise the glory of your name!

     No one yet grasped that your mortal punishment would bring our eternal peace; that your fatal wounding would secure our everlasting healing; that your being crushed would lead to our being cherished by the thrice holy God (Isa 53:1-12). Though they had the Scriptures, but they did not see you in the Scriptures.

     And yet, the chief priests and the Pharisees did remember your promise of resurrection. They weren’t sad about your death, they were mad with fear about the possibility of your life. Having already plotted to put to death a resurrected Lazarus, they weren’t about to indulge a resurrected rabbi.

     Oh foolish, silly, sinful men—they’d easier secure the non-rising of the sun than the non-rising of the Son of Man—the Son of God, God the Son! Resurrection Sunday was coming and there was absolutely nothing they could do about it. The silence of Saturday would soon be shattered with the shouts of Sunday, “The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed!” So very Amen and Hallelujah, we shout in your peerless and powerful name.

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