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PrevPrevious EntryHoly Week Devotions: Day Six – Good Friday
Next EntryHoly Week Devotions: Day Eight – Resurrection SundayNext

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Holy Week Devotions: Day Seven – Holy Saturday

Day Seven – Holy Saturday

Text: (Matthew 27:62–66)

The Saturday of Easter weekend is a “forgotten day.” It is often overlooked compared to the rest of what is a very eventful week. Saturday is a day we don’t talk about much. It’s the day in between the darkest day in history, and the happiest day in history. It’s a day of confusion and silence. It’s a day of nothingness. I think a lot of us can relate to Saturday. Saturday’s theme is about “waiting.” Ever been kept in waiting? Waiting for the job opportunity to call back? Waiting for the doctor to give the diagnosis? Waiting for your loved one to get better? Waiting on the promises of God? What do you do while you are kept in this waiting room? Today can be a difficult day. It is the only day in history where the body of Jesus laid buried in a tomb.

The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. (Matt 27:62-66, NIV) 

I often wonder what this day was like for the disciples. Yesterday, he died. Tomorrow, he rises. But what about today? Saturday can be a day when we feel “forgotten.” As such, Saturday can feel despairing. Saturday is a day of grief. It’s the “dark night of the soul.” (as St. John of the Cross would say). Saturday is part of  the human experience in the already / not yet kingdom of God. What will you do on Saturday? Here are your options:

  1. Option 1: Resign. Give up. Decide it will always be like this. “Some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead” (1 Cor 15:12) This is the option of bitter resentment. It’s the path of cynicism. Do not take this path. If you’re already on it. Turn around.
  2. Option 2: Over-spiritualize it. Pretend like everything is OK and Saturday is not a problem. “It’s not so bad.” “Some have wandered away … they teach that the resurrection has already taken place and destroy the faith of some.” (2 Tim 2:18) This is the path of unbelief. Do not take this path either. There’s nothing at the end of it.
  3. Option 3: Face reality but without losing hope. Lament. Read the psalms. Press into the darkness and press into God’s presence. Though it’s difficult, you can be with God on “Saturday” in a way that you cannot be with God on every other day because on Saturday it’s very clear that He is your only hope and source of strength. On Saturday we grieve. But we do not grieve like those with no hope. (1 Thess 4:13) We wait for the Lord like the psalmist who said:

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

(Ps 27:13-14, ESV) 

If your life feels like “Saturday” right now, I am so so sorry. But can I encourage you to choose option 3? Faithful believers through the ages have gone before you. It is a well-worn path. The key to getting through Saturday is knowing you are not alone. God is always here and God is at work even if you do not see Him, He sees you.

Sunday is coming.

Prayer: Lord, to whom else can I turn? You are my soul’s desire. I choose to wait upon you. With patience I long for your promises to come true in my life. I look to you as my only hope. I will wait patiently until you come through for me. I am watching and ready. I need you today. I need you to breathe life into my dead situation. Only you can do this. I choose to wait for Sunday. Come, quickly Lord. Saturday is hard. Help me to sense your presence here with me while I wait. 


Holy Week Devotionals:

  1. Day 1 – Palm Sunday
  2. Day 2 – Monday
  3. Day 3 – Tuesday
  4. Day 4 – Wednesday 
  5. Day 5 – Maundy Thursday 
  6. Day 6 – Good Friday 
  7. Day 7 – Holy Saturday 
  8. Day 8 – Resurrection Sunday  
Dave Hentschel

Dave Hentschel

David Hentschel serves as Lead Pastor: Preaching, Spiritual Formation and Care at Millington Baptist Church in Basking Ridge, NJ. He is a graduate of Philadelphia Biblical University and Dallas Theological Seminary. He and his wife Juli enjoy three children.
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Holy Week Devotions: Day Eight – Resurrection Sunday

April 4, 2021
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Dave Hentschel
Day Eight: Resurrection Sunday Texts: (Matthew 28:1–20, Mark 16:1–8, Luke 24:1–53, John 20:1–21:25.) Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! O Happy Day! As we come to the end of our Holy Week devotional series, we truly have saved the best for last. We actually have come to the beginning. A...
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Holy Week Devotions: Day Six – Good Friday

April 2, 2021
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Dave Hentschel
Day Six: Good Friday Texts: (Matthew 27:1–61, Mark 15:1–47, Luke 23:1–56, John 18:28–19:42.) The theme of today's devotional is the word "Love." Do you believe God loves you? Perhaps you've struggled receiving love in your life. Maybe even those closest to you have not been very loving. Maybe others have...
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Holy Week Devotions: Day Five – Maundy Thursday

April 1, 2021
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Dave Hentschel
Day Five: Maundy Thursday Texts: (Matthew 26:17–75, Mark 14:12–72, Luke 22:7–71, John 13:1–18:27) The Thursday prior to Jesus’s crucifixion is choc-full of activity. There is the famous “Last Supper” in the upper room and the subsequent discourse. This is the night Jesus washes his disciples’ feet. After the meal, Jesus...
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Holy Week Devotions: Day Four – Wednesday

March 31, 2021
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Dave Hentschel
Day Four: Wednesday Texts: (Matthew 26:6–16, Mark 14:1–11, Luke 22:3–6.) Congratulations on making it this far. We are half-way through remembering the most important week in human history! The past several days have been a rush of activity and tension featuring Jesus’s opponents—and His unflinching resolve. On the Wednesday before...
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Holy Week Devotions: Day Three – Tuesday

March 30, 2021
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Dave Hentschel
Day Three – Tuesday Texts: (Matthew 21:23–26:5, Mark 11:27–14:2, Luke 20:1–22:2, John 12:37–50) The theme for today’s devotional is “authority.” As we consider Holy Week and all that Jesus was and is, ask yourself, “Who has the right to rule in my life?” Who’s the boss? Remember that 80's TV...
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Holy Week Devotions: Day Two – Monday

March 29, 2021
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Dave Hentschel
Day Two: Monday Texts: (Matthew 21:12–22, Mark 11:12–19, Luke 19:45–48) On Monday, one of the central themes is the question: “What kind of worship does God require from His people?” How is your worship lately? One of the first commandments in the Bible is for us to worship God. Remember...
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Holy Week Devotions: Day Eight – Resurrection Sunday

Day Eight: Resurrection Sunday Texts: (Matthew 28:1–20, Mark 16:1–8, Luke 24:1–53, John 20:1–21:25.) Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! O Happy Day! As we come to the end of our Holy Week devotional series, we truly have saved the best for last. We actually have come to the beginning. A new creation is begun. Today’s

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Dave Hentschel April 4, 2021

Holy Week Devotions: Day Six – Good Friday

Day Six: Good Friday Texts: (Matthew 27:1–61, Mark 15:1–47, Luke 23:1–56, John 18:28–19:42.) The theme of today’s devotional is the word “Love.” Do you believe God loves you? Perhaps you’ve struggled receiving love in your life. Maybe even those closest to you have not been very loving. Maybe others have failed you in this way

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Dave Hentschel April 2, 2021

Holy Week Devotions: Day Five – Maundy Thursday

Day Five: Maundy Thursday Texts: (Matthew 26:17–75, Mark 14:12–72, Luke 22:7–71, John 13:1–18:27) The Thursday prior to Jesus’s crucifixion is choc-full of activity. There is the famous “Last Supper” in the upper room and the subsequent discourse. This is the night Jesus washes his disciples’ feet. After the meal, Jesus and his closest friends leave

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Dave Hentschel April 1, 2021
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