Black Saturday or Holy Saturday as known in some denominations is the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. What Is Significant about Black Saturday or Holy Saturday? Let me suggest three observations for you to consider related to this special day.
Jesus Prayed
As Jesus prepared to go to the cross in order to take on Himself the sins of the whole world, Jesus tells His disciples that one will betray Him. As they wonder who it will be, Jesus tells them all that they will be scattered. Notice the text:
Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:
‘I will strike the Shepherd,
And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ (Matthew 26:31).
Jesus knew – as was predicted in Zechariah 13:7 – that His disciples would each scatter away from Him in fear.
Peter boldly told Jesus he would not. In fact, Peter exclaimed, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!” (Luke 22:33).
Yet, Peter overestimated his own zeal and commitment of following Jesus. Instead, he later will deny Jesus three times.
This is critical for you – notice what Jesus says to Peter even in spite of what Jesus already knew to be true about Peter!
Jesus tells Peter, “but I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32).
Did you catch that? Jesus prayed for Peter’s faith that it would not fail. And not that just simply would not fail but that he would use his experience to strengthen his brothers.
Peter… the one who said he would not deny, the one who said he would die if need be, the one who slept instead of pray and prepare for temptation, the one who essentially ignored Jesus’ warning … that one Jesus prayed for and encouraged. Jesus knew Peter would need to remember His words to Him in the depth of His denial. Jesus knew that Peter’s sorrow would almost be overwhelming. In advance, knowing these things, Jesus prayed for him.
Jesus’ Followers Had Each Other
Immediately after the arrest of Jesus, the disciples scattered. Peter only followed Jesus from a distance. The rest took off. Essentially, they denied Jesus with their feet. You might refer to this as a functional denial.
However, by the end of the trial as the crucifixion got closer, they began to come back around. Jesus talked with John from the cross and challenged him to take care of His mother Mary. Others, the text says, gathered and observed from a distance (cf., John 19:25-27; Luke 23:49).
After the resurrection, Jesus told Mary to go tell the disciples (cf., John 20:14-18; Luke 24:9-12; Matthew 28:10; Mark 16:7).
Those who followed Jesus, along with the disciples, had each other. In my mind, you do not want to miss this.
Although Jesus was not physically present, the followers of Jesus had each other. They received strength from each other. Imagine their conversation as they reminded each other of what they had heard, seen, and done together.
Their physical presence together helped them as it brought peace, company, and encouragement. On that Saturday, although Jesus was not physically present, their relationship with Him and each other blessed them significantly.
Jesus’ Story Was Not Over
The story of Jesus did not conclude on that Friday of crucifixion. Although the Bible says that Jesus breathed His last breath, Jesus’ story was not finished (Luke 23:44).
To see the significance of this, let’s turn the clock back a time or two. Remember when they came to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus told them, “Day after day when I was with you in the temple courts, you did not arrest me. But this is your hour, and that of the power of darkness!” (Luke 22:53). I love Jesus’ response here. He identified that this hour was it. The power of darkness was limited to a specified amount of time. Oh yes, this looked bleak. For those followers around Jesus, as well as the religious leaders of Jesus’ day who hated Jesus, His death looked final. However, looks are deceiving!
Jesus predicted these events many times. As early as Luke 9:33, Jesus predicted that His story would not be over at His death. Jesus said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day” (Luke 9:33). In fact, even then, He told His disciples to remember what He said: “Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men” (Luke 9:44).
Jesus had already predicted His death two other times in Luke’s Gospel when he said, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again” (Luke 18:31-33).
Jesus told His followers over and over that His death was not the end of the story. Yet, the disciples waited on a dark and silent Saturday. Jesus’ story felt over.
What Is Significant about Black Saturday or Holy Saturday?
What is significant about Black Saturday or Holy Saturday can be summarized into three observations:
First, just as Jesus prayed for Peter, He makes intercession for you today as well.
He sits at the throne of God ready to grant you all the grace you need. He understands you, your circumstances, and your need for grace. Just as He loved and prayed for Peter – even though He knew Peter’s impending failures – He also prays for your faith and further ministry too in spite of your imperfections.
Second, although Jesus is not currently here physically in our presence, He has given us each other.
As followers of Christ, you have me, I have you, we all have each other. You may be reading this and actually do not know me personally; however, you have other friends and family who also walk with Christ around you. You function alongside each other as part of God’s grace to you. On this Saturday, we can each be reminded that He not only is with us spiritually Himself, but also, Jesus has not left us alone. We have each other.
Third, Black Saturday reminds us once again that Jesus’ story is still not over!
Before Jesus went back to Heaven, He told the disciples, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority” (Acts 1:7). This, of course, is consistent with what Jesus taught even before He died. He told the disciples, ““Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me…I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3).
Further, when Jesus ascended into Heaven, the angels told those standing around and watching: “And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:10-11). Again, Jesus’ story is far from over.
On this Saturday – a day of darkness, silence, and solitude, take a few moments to contemplate the significance of Jesus’ prayer for you, that fact that we have each other, and that Jesus’ story is not finished.
Image Credit Duncan Sanchez
KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together