Holy Saturday

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O God, Creator of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the
crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb and
rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the
coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of
life; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

These are the readings for Holy Saturday service.

Old Testament Job 14:1-14
Psalm 130, or 31:1-5
Epistle 1 Peter 4:1-8
Gospel Matthew 27:57-66, or John 19:38-42

On Holy Saturday, the Body of our Lord lay in a tomb.

Job says that a mortal, born of a woman, is few of days and full of trouble. We come up like a flower and wither ... we flee like a shadow and do not last. The Son of God, our Messiah and King, joined us even in our witheringness ... like a flower struck down.

Job continues explaining that there is hope for a tree cut down, but no hope for us. When mortals die, they are laid low. When humans expire, where are they? Mortals lie low and do not rise again. And then, because this truth is so dark and unacceptable, he asks the question "If mortals die, will they live again?"

Jesus was the Word made flesh. He was real flesh indeed, real flesh and blood. Real mortality. If mortals die, will they live again? Jesus dies and is laid low. He expires and where is he?

On Sunday he will answer Job's question ... our question.

The John reading ... the gospel story from those verses ... tells of Jesus' lifeless body. The wealthy, but hidden disciples wrap him in spice and linen and lay him in a tomb. It was a new tomb and so his body was the first to be lain there ... he was alone in the darkness.

The night was dark and silent. The day, Holy Saturday, was dark and silent. The beginning of the next night was dark and silent.

And then sometime in the early morning before the dawning of light ...

Comments

Kris McDaniel said…
This painting gets me every time. What an image of Jesus. Good post, J.
April 16, 2009 at 6:32 AM
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