Holy Week Saturday: Goodbook 3-31-18

Holy Week is underway. We typically highlight certain days more than others, like Good Friday and Easter, but there were significant events that happened on each day of Holy Week. I will share these with you throughout the week with a few reflection questions. Please feel free to share your responses in the comment section.

SATURDAY

On Friday Jesus died.  On Sunday Jesus rose again.  What happened on Saturday?

Some events of this day can be inferred by the details in the Gospels.  For example, we know the disciples were hiding in fear (John 20:19).  Other events of Holy Saturday are fun to imagine and speculate on.  One question in particular peaks my interest: What was Jesus doing on Saturday?  We know he was dead from an earthly standpoint, but what was he doing from a spiritual standpoint? The Apostles Creed says Jesus "descended into hell." There is an intriguing verse in 1 Peter 3:19 that says, "After being made alive, (Jesus) went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits."  We don't know exactly what this means, but it is fun to imagine Jesus busting into hell, breaking chains and taking names.  Perhaps this silent day on earth was the noisest day in hell as Satan lost the battle and all those were hoping for a Savior heard the Good News from Jesus himself!

The only recorded event from Saturday is found in Matthew 27:62–66

"The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, 'Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 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.' Pilate said to them, 'You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.' So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard."

Questions:

1. What do you find most intriguing about Holy Saturday - what the disciples did, what Jesus did, or what the chief priests and Pharises did?  Why?
2. Why do you think Matthew emphasizes the presence of the armed guards at Jesus' tomb?
3. How have you tried to guard against God breaking through in your life?  Why?  What happened?

Please share your thoughts and ideas...