Passion Week Devotional - Saturday - Matthew 27:57-66

Matthew 27:57-66 

As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 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. 

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb. 

The Guard at the Tomb 

The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 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.” “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. 

For the disciples of Jesus, Saturday was the space in between the crucifixion and the resurrection. It was the day between despair and joy, defeat and triumph. It was the day before the miracle—the time when they were forced to wait and wonder. They’d been with Jesus daily for three years and had seen Him perform amazing miracles, but now they were separated by His grave. The Messiah was lying in a tomb. Can you imagine the pain and confusion they must have experienced? 

Like the disciples, I’m sure we can all think of times in our lives when we’ve walked closely with Jesus, only to reach a place where ‘life happens’: estrangement from a spouse or child and longing for the relationship to be restored; being between jobs, or wondering if Jesus will ever bring victory in a particular battle in your life. 
Maybe you’re questioning your purpose—or, like the disciples, you’re consumed by fear and anxiety. 

Sometimes we start to question God, wondering if He is still with us. Whatever your situation, there is hope for you today. 

Outside the tomb, the work of Jesus appeared to have come to nothing. But inside, Jesus rested from the finished work on the cross. To those on the outside, the promises seemed broken—but inside the tomb, the broken were being healed. Outside, the disciples were breaking down—but inside, victory was about to break out. 

Can I encourage each and every one of us: those dark moments of life serve to highlight the glory of the resurrection when it comes—for YOU. 

I encourage us all to persevere. For the disciples on Easter Saturday, all seemed lost—but God was working behind the scenes in their lives. And in less than 24 hours, their crucified Saviour would become their resurrected King. 

We can find comfort in the silence and trust in the promise of new life, remembering that even in our darkest times, hope and resurrection await. 

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." 
(Romans 15:13, ESV) 

Personal application: 

Reflect on the events of Jesus' burial and the hope it holds for us. 

We can find comfort in knowing that even in the face of death, there is hope for a new life in Christ. 

Today’s devotional was written by Shari Barrett.