Today is Holy Saturday of the Passion Week of Jesus Christ. Holy Saturday is the day after the crucifixion. After his death on the cross on Friday, Jesus' family lowered his body and quickly transported it to a borrowed tomb from Joseph of Arimathea. All of this had to happen in rapid fashion because of the fast-approaching hour of the Sabbath. No work could be done on the Sabbath and this included burials.
The body was placed in the tomb, a stone rolled in front of the entrance to seal and Roman guards were present to prevent anyone from stealing the body to further the "messiahship" ramblings of a young man from Nazareth. Sabbath descended and 24 hours of silence began.
The Sabbath held a sense of accomplishment for the Romans, Pharisees, Sadducees and nonbelievers. The longstanding institution, tradition and belief of the Jewish faith was being challenged from a young man born of a carpenter. People in panic often react through irrational words and behavior. Their reaction of sending someone to death by way of the cross was a display of their extreme and intense fear of coming change that was preached by this man.
The Sabbath for the "followers of the way" was a day of silence, wonder, bewilderment, concern, disappointment, reflection and just a "sinking feeling in the gut kinda day." Were they misinformed followers of an egocentric man from Nazareth? Did the cross derail Jesus' mission? What were they to do next, go back home and pick up past lives?
The Sabbath for the crucified Jesus is riddled with mystery. Nowhere in the Bible does it actually give an account of what happened with Jesus during this "silent" period. Some believe that during this time Jesus went into hell and preached to the souls imprisoned there. But I don't think there is a textual basis for that assumption. The normal assumption is that Jesus' fleshly body remained in the tomb, just as ours will remain in the grave. His spirit went to the Father just as ours will go.
The Sabbath of Passion Week for me is about silence. It was a day of silence and reflection for the followers of the way and so it continues to be for me. I think the day of silence was divinely designed by our Creator because He knew we needed it.
Silence is the perfect statement of faith. It is the perfect prayer. Silence allows the connection to God beyond what words can express. It is a special gift to us if we nurture, mature and make use of it. It is an act that allows our Creator to extend His divine arms, grab and embrace us. It is a journey whose path leads to perfect peace in Him.
I often find myself speaking when I should be silent. Often silent when I should be speaking. I pray that as I continue my daily walk towards Him, I will be more discerning between the two. So for today, I am silent.
May today not be my only day of silence during the next year because as God revealed centuries ago, the day after silence may literally be the day that changes the world and eternity.
