Waiting – April 3, Holy Saturday

Luke 23:50-56 NIV

Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

Today is a day of waiting.  Christ has been crucified and placed in the tomb and we wait.  While we know that we’re waiting for the third day his followers didn’t.  They were waiting on this Sabbath day for their chance to go to the tomb and properly deal with Jesus’ body.  They waited and wept.  They mourned the loss of the one they followed and the one who was their friend.

Our Lord also “waited” on this day but his waiting looked quite a bit different.  In his death our Lord set free the dead.  By his death Jesus has defeated the hold of death on all humanity.  On this Sabbath Christ rested in the tomb having completed his work on the cross – by his death destroying hell.

Just as we are told in Genesis that God rested after he completed the work of creation (thus instituting the Sabbath) so Christ, having completed his work on the Cross, rests in the tomb.  The final exclamation point of his victory will come tomorrow.  But today he rests from the completely of his work.  He has destroyed death and set free the captives.  Tomorrow our joy will be made full and complete.  For tomorrow we will sing the songs of triumph.  But for now we wait.  For now we mourn like his followers and we rest in the hope that Christ has accomplished his work.

Let us make prepare ourselves for tomorrow like the women who prepared spices for Christ’s body.  Let us make ready our hearts and souls that we may fully receive Christ in his resurrection tomorrow.

Closing Prayer:

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 may we 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.

– Book of Common Prayer