The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. (Luke 23:55-56 ESV)
It is appropriate that the waiting came on the Sabbath.
Some see Saturday of Holy Week as a dark day, filled with fear and dread for those who loved Jesus. But since we have the full revelation of Scripture, we know how the story ends. And so we can see this day not as dark, but as blessed. It is a reminder that, as Hebrews 4:9 says, "So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God". But this rest isn't achieved by completion of our own works.
Hebrews 4 teaches us that by faith, we enter in to His sabbath rest. By faith, we believe it truly is finished. By faith, we rest from our works. And by faith, we see Him not on the cross or in the tomb, but resurrected.
They didn't realize it when they went home that evening, but that pre-resurrection Sabbath would be the last one where believers would have to doubt. For today and every other Saturday of Holy Week, wherever we are in the world, whatever our personal struggles and circumstances, believers are united in this:
Tomorrow morning, there will be no wondering about the tomb. It will still be empty.
No comments:
Post a Comment