Holy Week Devotional | Day 6
Holy Saturday
READ: Matthew 27:57-66 (NIV)
Sealing of Christ’s Tomb, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN.
57 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 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.”
65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.
REFLECT:
As you read this passage again, pay close attention to the actions of Joseph, Mary and Mary, the Chief Priests and Pharisees, and Pilate. Joseph was a Sadducee, but a secret disciple of Christ. He took great risk in revealing his true allegiance to Jesus at a time that was very dangerous. On this Holy Saturday, as we look forward to celebrating Christ’s resurrection to new life, are there any risks that the Spirit may be calling you to take as a disciple of Jesus?
PRAY:
Christ our God,
your love is poured out in death for our sakes.
Hold us in your embrace
as we wait for Easter's dawn.
Comfort us with the promise that no power on earth, not even death itself,
can separate us from your love;
and strengthen us to wait
until you are revealed to us
in all your risen glory. Amen.
"Reprinted from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers, copyright © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts"