Holy Saturday: The Silence of the Tomb or Black Saturday

“Holy Saturday” is the quiet pause between the pain of Good Friday and the victory of Easter Sunday. It’s a day of stillness, waiting, and deep trust in the promise of God—even when it seems like nothing is happening.

📖 What Happened on Holy Saturday?

🕊️ 1. Jesus Is Laid in the Tomb

Matthew 27:59-60

“Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 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.”

After the crucifixion, Jesus’ lifeless body was lovingly buried. His death was real, and His body lay cold and still in the grave.

🔒 2. The Tomb Is Sealed and Guarded

Matthew 27:65-66

“Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.”

The authorities were determined to silence Jesus, even in death. But no human barrier could stop what God was about to do.

🛐 3. Jesus Declares Victory in the Realm of the Dead

1 Peter 3:18-19

“He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits…”

Though silent to the world, Jesus was active in the spiritual realm—declaring His triumph even in the depths of death.

🤍 Reflection: When Heaven Feels Silent

Holy Saturday captures the feeling of every "in-between" season.
The disciples mourned. The women waited. The world seemed lost. But something unseen was unfolding.

We, too, experience “Holy Saturday” moments—times when prayers go unanswered, doors remain shut, and God feels distant. Yet this sacred silence invites us to trust. Because just beyond the silence… is resurrection.

Even when God is silent, He is never absent.

🙏 A Prayer for Holy Saturday

Lord of the Silent Hours,

In the stillness of this day, we remember what it means to wait.
When hope feels buried and darkness surrounds us, remind us that You are never idle.
You are working, moving, redeeming—even in the unseen.

Teach us to rest in Your promises,
To trust through the silence,
And to wait in hope, knowing that Sunday is coming.

Amen.

📅 Holy Saturday Encouragement

Hold tight. Wait well. Resurrection is closer than it seems.
As we honor this sacred pause, let us prepare our hearts for the joy of the empty tomb.

Spy Wednesday: The Betrayal That Changed Everything

As Holy Week progresses toward its climax, Spy Wednesday marks a somber and chilling turn in the journey to the cross. The day gets its name from the most infamous act of betrayal in history—Judas Iscariot's agreement to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.

The Day the Plot Was Set in Motion

Spy Wednesday is a day of quiet reflection, not for what was said, but for what was planned in secret. It reminds us that the Passion of Christ was not only forged in the open—through teachings, miracles, and confrontation—but also in the shadows, where betrayal was born.

“Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, ‘What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?’ So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.”
– Matthew 26:14–16 (NIV)

This passage encapsulates the heart of Spy Wednesday: a man, chosen as a disciple, turning from his Master for worldly gain. It is a sobering moment, reminding us how proximity to Jesus does not always mean fidelity to Him.

A Day of Contrasts

While Judas plotted in secret, Jesus continued to teach, love, and prepare for the cross. The contrast is profound: light and darkness, faithfulness and treachery, love and greed.

In the Gospel of John, we see Jesus’ deep awareness of what is to come:

“Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”
– John 13:21 (NIV)

Yet, even in this moment of pain, Jesus does not rage or condemn. Instead, He continues on the path of love, washing the feet of His disciples—including Judas—and preparing them for what lies ahead.

A Mirror for Our Hearts

Spy Wednesday challenges us to look within. It is easy to condemn Judas, yet the spirit of betrayal can creep into our own lives in subtle ways—when we choose comfort over conviction, or when we hide our faith to avoid discomfort.

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
– Psalm 139:23–24 (NIV)

In the silence of this Wednesday, we are invited to pray, reflect, and prepare our hearts. Holy Thursday and Good Friday are coming. The cross looms on the horizon, and our Savior walks toward it with courage, knowing full well the cost of love.

Prayers and Reflections

Friday, April 18, 2025