Holy Week: Saturday

THEME FOR THE WEEK: THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
This week stands as the holiest week of the Christian year. Throughout this week, we will read continuously from Matthew's version of the Last Supper, the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of our Lord. The temptation in reading any familiar story is to gloss over it quickly. We've heard it all before. Thus, we miss the opportunity to immerse ourselves in this grand narrative of tragedy and triumph, human sinfulness and Jesus' faithfulness, paralyzing fear and sacrificial love, bitter death and sweet resurrection to new life.

Each day this week, read the text slowly one time... then again... and even a third time if possible. Allow the story to move from your head to your heart. Note what words strike you, what characters resemble you or repulse you, and what Jesus endured for you. God's story is your story.


PASSAGE FOR THE DAY
As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 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.”

65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. (Matthew 27:57-66, NIV)


REFLECTION QUESTIONS AND PRAYER
What does this story tell us about the God revealed in Jesus?

What does this story tell us about humanity?

What prayer would you offer to God this day?

What prayers would you offer for others, for our world? 


INSIGHTS FROM THE JOURNEY
In order to bring the Lenten experience today proper close, I'd like to encourage you to mentally gather the salient experiences, the accumulated insights, the inner promptings from this Lenten season and write them down in a journal.

How have you experienced God's presence this Lenten season? 

How has your connection with yourself, with others deepened because of your intentional work?

Which discipline will you continue to build into your life?

Say a prayer of gratitude to God for the work that his Spirit has done in your life this Lenten season.