So there they laid Jesus because of the Jews’ Preparation Day for the tomb was nearby. John 20:42

All four Gospel writers describe what took place after Jesus’ death on the cross. He was wrapped in linens and placed in Joseph of Arimathea’s personal tomb as the Sabbath approached. The next account is that “on the first day of the week” of Mary Magdalene and some other women went to the tomb to anoint Jesus with oils and spices. We know the rest of the marvelous story. The tomb is empty. Jesus has risen from the dead. Good Friday is finished forever. The Resurrection of the Lord is our hope.

But what of that Sabbath Saturday when Jesus’ disciples left him in the tomb and returned so sorrowfully to their homes? What was going on? The Scriptures tells us absolutely nothing of the ensuing time between Jesus’ burial and resurrection. The Scriptures, the revealed Word of God are silent. The silence is deafening and terrible because for perhaps the first time in human history, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is silent. Scripture tells us that Jesus bore the wrath of God…

.. for our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2. Corinthians 5:21

I wonder how during the earthly 24 hours before Jesus rose from the dead any prayers were being heard or received by Yahweh? Were the Pharisees or Jews calling to God on the Sabbath? Were the Romans on their knees? To whom did God bend his ear or fix His eye for those hours? As Messiah Jesus had fulfilled every requirement of the law and was the new covenant between men and God. There was no prophet. The old priesthood was null and void. There was no righteous person on earth who could stand before the Creator because not even Jesus’ family or closest friends understood yet who Jesus really was – their Redeemer. Where was their hope not yet revealed? God’s silence on that day 2000 years ago may be the most terrible wrath of all.

Today on the day we call Holy Saturday I pray to remember that singular Sabbath of Silence. I thank God that we’ve never had to experience it since because Jesus paid the price of our sin and the tomb is empty. His Spirit lives and because of him, so do we. We can now approach God’s throne with boldness to ask for mercy and help. I pray we will never have a single day without God responding to our prayers.