And on the Sabbath Day, He Rested
There in the ground his body lay...
Luke 23:50-56 | Job 14:1-14
In the creation story, God established Saturday as the sabbath. God rested on the sabbath after a week of creation.
Jesus has begun the new creation. And on Holy Saturday, he rested. There is no shortage of meaning in Jesus’ body laying in the ground on the sabbath.
In one way, we too live in an on-going Holy Saturday, the nature of which is that we’re awaiting resurrection.
In the meantime, religious leaders continue to pace fretfully and governmental leaders are rather indifferent. The faithful - rich men and concerned women alike - tend to Jesus the best they know how.
And no one really knows what’s about to happen.
Luke 23:50-56
Now there was a man named Joseph who was a member of the council. He was a good and righteous man. He hadn’t agreed with the plan and actions of the council. He was from the Jewish city of Arimathea and eagerly anticipated God’s kingdom. This man went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Taking it down, he wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid it in a tomb carved out of the rock, in which no one had ever been buried. It was the Preparation Day for the Sabbath, and the Sabbath was quickly approaching. The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph. They saw the tomb and how Jesus’ body was laid in it, then they went away and prepared fragrant spices and perfumed oils. They rested on the Sabbath, in keeping with the commandment.
Job 14:1-14
All of us are born of women,
have few days, and are full of turmoil.
Like a flower, we bloom, then wither,
flee like a shadow, and don’t last.
(Yes, you open your eyes on this one;
you bring me into trial against you.)
Who can make pure from impure?
Nobody.
If our days are fixed, the number of our months with you,
you set a statute and we can’t exceed it.
Look away from us that we may rest,
until we are satisfied like a worker at day’s end.
Indeed there is hope for a tree.
If it’s cut down and still sprouting
and its shoots don’t fail,
if its roots age in the ground
and its stump dies in the dust,
at the scent of water, it will bud
and produce sprouts like a plant.
But a human dies and lies there;
a person expires, and where is he?
Water vanishes from the sea;
a river dries up completely.
But a human lies down and doesn’t rise
until the heavens cease;
they don’t get up and awaken from sleep.
I wish you would hide me in the underworld,
conceal me until your anger passes,
set a time for me, and remember me.
If people die, will they live again?
All the days of my service I would wait
until my restoration took place.
Prayer
God,
On this Holy Saturday, I pray that your disciples everywhere find rest with Jesus. Awaken us again tomorrow to great new hope. Surprise us, enliven us, make us people of action and justice in the wake of Christ’s risen victory.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.