Prayer to Jesus to rest on this Holy Saturday
Kyle Norman
Bible Reading:
“The woman who came with Jesus of Galilee followed, and saw how the tomb and his body were born. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. – Luke 23:55-56
Read or listen to the following:
This is when everything is stuck in the middle. Think about how you’ll talk about the middle:
The middle finger is the finger of insult. Middle school is an academic confusion. It lacks both primary school fun and high school fame. On the streets, it often refers to something or someone who lacks vibrancy, panache, or excitement.
Was Holy Saturday the child in the middle of Christ’s passion? After all, Holy Saturday is packed into two days with spectacular events. Good Friday is behind us with testimony of Christ’s death on the cross, made for sin on our behalf. Meanwhile, Easter mornings have a glorious message of resurrection and new life. So I’m sitting there on Holy Saturday. It’s a day without stories and at first glance it looks like there are no events. I don’t know what to do.
But what if Holy Saturday is stuck in the middle for more than a day? Holy Saturday helps us see that our struggle is not a struggle for salvation, but a struggle to understand the dynamics of salvation we live in. Good Friday and Easter Sunday will take place by Holy Saturday. They are held as an integral part of one comprehensive story rather than a conflicting event. Holy Saturday is the day we rest in Christ’s victorious work, but we still expect him to be revealed. As Christ’s glorious work is not yet complete, on Holy Saturday we realize that our spiritual life is not yet complete either.
It’s easy to hurry past Holy Saturday, but we might be called to stop this downbeat day. How does Holy Saturday call us to be before the Lord so that we can truly rest in the glory of Christ’s work? After all, this sense of tranquility is implicit on the day. Jesus appears to be in motion in the tomb. Still, we recognize his victory. It quietly understands that not the trumpet cries and alleluias (which happens the next day), but that all universes have been redeemed. And the tranquility of Holy Saturday is a deep expression of the Sabbath. Just as God left the seventh day of creation activity, Jesus is now resting from this seventh day of recreation activity. And we can rest.
We can rest before Jesus. We can rest knowing that our sins have been paid and that our self is accepted. And there has never been a dark experience so dark that Christ’s love cannot reach. But we can also rest, knowing that a new life awaits us and that Jesus is inviting us in chaos. We should rest knowing that the vision of the Resurrected Lord can always answer questions and doubts.
And on this holy Saturday, you should rest to Jesus. Experience his love. May his grace and his tranquility calm your soul.
Let’s pray:
Graceful Jesus, I thank the Good Friday behind me, and the reality of your love sacrifice. Thank you for the cross and the gift of salvation that flows from your death. I also thank you for the Easter Sunday before me and your strong revival predictions. Thank you for bringing me into a new life every day.
Lord, I am grateful that Holy Saturday holds the cross and the empty tomb together at this beautiful pause moment. May the silence of Holy Saturday meet me and open me to your quiet presence in my life. Lord, in the quietness of this day, you call me and breathe the gift of love and grace. Help me turn my back from everything that distracts me from your presence. Help me rest when I feel like running. Help me still be there when I don’t want to be frenzy. When I want to fill my life with something else, please stop and help me stay with you. Does this holy Saturday remind us that your love for me is not seen in the grand or miraculous things, but that it has never been in the quiet part of my life? I pray all these things in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Photo Credit: ©GetTyimages/Boonyachoat
Pastor Kyle Norman is the president of St. Paul’s Cathedral in Kamloops, Canada. He holds a PhD in Spiritual Formation and is a popular author, speaker and retreat leader. His writings can be found at Christianity.com, Crosswalk.com, Ibelieve.com, Renovare Canada and more. He also maintains his own blog revkylenorman.ca. He has 20 years of idyllic experience and his ministry focuses on helping people overcome times of mental disappointment.
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