April 11, 2020 –Holy Saturday/Easter Vigil Devotion by Rev. Jessica Johnson
Resting in Hope
Lectionary Readings for Holy Saturday 2020
Devotion – Matthew 27:57-66
Matthew 27:57-66 (ESV) states:
The Guard at the Tomb62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.
Even in death, Jesus held such power and authority that the Jewish religious leaders were still afraid. They were remembering the teachings of Jesus and what He had prophesied about Himself: that He would rise after 3 days. They knew that Jesus had risen others from the dead. They also knew that in death, as a martyr, Jesus’s teachings could still hold sway over His followers. Perhaps they had begun to doubt themselves, doubt what they had done, or perhaps they feared the consequences of what they had just “gotten away with”. According the world standards, the Jewish religious leaders had “won” and their competition was dead and buried. But they were still afraid. The priests and Pharisees were still afraid of Jesus and went to Pilate to request that the tomb be made secure. They did not want the disciples or anyone to steal the body of Jesus. However, by doing that, they furthered the will of God and provided further proof of His death and resurrection.
Truthfully, the Jewish religious leaders did not have to worry much about the disciples at this time. The disciples of Jesus had scattered during the trial and crucifixion. During this day on the Sabbath, they were in mourning and didn’t know what to do next. When Mary discovered Jesus had risen and went to tell the disciples, they were just a bit of a mess as they mourned the loss of their friend and teacher.
Closing
When you hear about the death and crucifixion of Jesus, how do you feel? Even though I know the ending, even though I know He returns to life, whenever I read those passages in Scripture, I get a catch in my chest. To have such a light go out of the world after having it for 3 years, it must have been stifling and felt like such hopelessness. Thankfully, we don’t have to feel that. I know that many people feel hopeless and wander about this world lost. But you don’t have to. We know that Jesus defeated death and returns to life. We know that He is coming again to get us in the end days. We know that God claims us as His children. We have hope and love. We know that ending of the darkest chapter in human history, because the greatest story ever told did not end with the death of Jesus and His body in a tomb sealed behind a great rock. No, that story did not end, just a chapter of it did. It is still occurring. The kingdom of God that Jesus preached about is at hand, and we can all be a part of it. There is real love and real hope to be found in Jesus.
Today is the Sabbath day, a day of rest. I pray that you rest today in the hope of salvation that only can be found in Jesus Christ. Our world is going through a lot right now, and we all could use just a bit of a break right now. Turn off the news. Take a break from social media. Do or read something that has nothing to do with politics, news, the corona virus, or anything stressing you out about the world. Maybe take a break from household chores and work. Just spend time with God and loved ones. I encourage you to just rest today. It is the Sabbath after all.
Resting in Hope
Lectionary Readings for Holy Saturday 2020
- Job 14:1-14 OR Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-24
- Psalm 31:1-4, 15-16
- 1 Peter 4:1-8
- Matthew 27:57-66 OR John 19:38-42
Devotion – Matthew 27:57-66
Matthew 27:57-66 (ESV) states:
The Guard at the Tomb62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.
Even in death, Jesus held such power and authority that the Jewish religious leaders were still afraid. They were remembering the teachings of Jesus and what He had prophesied about Himself: that He would rise after 3 days. They knew that Jesus had risen others from the dead. They also knew that in death, as a martyr, Jesus’s teachings could still hold sway over His followers. Perhaps they had begun to doubt themselves, doubt what they had done, or perhaps they feared the consequences of what they had just “gotten away with”. According the world standards, the Jewish religious leaders had “won” and their competition was dead and buried. But they were still afraid. The priests and Pharisees were still afraid of Jesus and went to Pilate to request that the tomb be made secure. They did not want the disciples or anyone to steal the body of Jesus. However, by doing that, they furthered the will of God and provided further proof of His death and resurrection.
Truthfully, the Jewish religious leaders did not have to worry much about the disciples at this time. The disciples of Jesus had scattered during the trial and crucifixion. During this day on the Sabbath, they were in mourning and didn’t know what to do next. When Mary discovered Jesus had risen and went to tell the disciples, they were just a bit of a mess as they mourned the loss of their friend and teacher.
Closing
When you hear about the death and crucifixion of Jesus, how do you feel? Even though I know the ending, even though I know He returns to life, whenever I read those passages in Scripture, I get a catch in my chest. To have such a light go out of the world after having it for 3 years, it must have been stifling and felt like such hopelessness. Thankfully, we don’t have to feel that. I know that many people feel hopeless and wander about this world lost. But you don’t have to. We know that Jesus defeated death and returns to life. We know that He is coming again to get us in the end days. We know that God claims us as His children. We have hope and love. We know that ending of the darkest chapter in human history, because the greatest story ever told did not end with the death of Jesus and His body in a tomb sealed behind a great rock. No, that story did not end, just a chapter of it did. It is still occurring. The kingdom of God that Jesus preached about is at hand, and we can all be a part of it. There is real love and real hope to be found in Jesus.
Today is the Sabbath day, a day of rest. I pray that you rest today in the hope of salvation that only can be found in Jesus Christ. Our world is going through a lot right now, and we all could use just a bit of a break right now. Turn off the news. Take a break from social media. Do or read something that has nothing to do with politics, news, the corona virus, or anything stressing you out about the world. Maybe take a break from household chores and work. Just spend time with God and loved ones. I encourage you to just rest today. It is the Sabbath after all.