Daily Devotional: “Easter Saturday: Anticipating Resurrection”

Scripture: John 19:38–42

‘Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid’ (Vv 40–41)

Easter Saturday and there’s a stillness. Jesus’ corpse is removed from the cross and buried in a tomb following his death (Mark 15:37). He needed burying before the start of the Sabbath, when Jewish Law stated no work could be done (Exodus 20:9–11). After the horror of his execution there is a deep silence throughout all creation on the eve of his promised resurrection. Two unlikely followers take charge of his funeral arrangements. We can never know for sure who is a disciple. It is not our responsibility to make judgments, but like Joseph and Nicodemus simply to focus on loving and serving God ourselves in the best ways we can.

Both these men ensured that Jesus enjoyed a dignified burial that followed Jewish custom. John tells us it was preparation day (V 42). Jesus is symbolically the sacrificial lamb, slaughtered the day before the Passover according to Jewish tradition. As Jesus was buried the world waited to discover if his words would be fulfilled. The ultimate Passover, deliverance from the bondage of sin, could only be made possible through Jesus’ resurrection, breaking the curse of sin and its bitter fruit death (Genesis 3). From this moment on there would be no need for a sacrificial lamb. Jesus ends the sacrificial system and reverses the curse that condemned humanity to wander in constant search of God. So in the stillness of the day of the Jewish Passover, all eternity waited to discover if Jesus truly was the Christ.

Today Consider the death and burial of Jesus, and anticipate the resurrection. Where do your thoughts lead you?

So our Action today. This Easter will Christ’s resurrection make a difference to how you approach life? Identify one change you want to make to the way you serve Jesus in the year ahead.

Prayer: ‘Lord, Help me to make this one change [name it] in how I serve you this year. Amen’