Holy Saturday | April 3, 2021
Holy Saturday Devotional Guide By Dr. Brad Bradford On this day, as we wait the coming day, do we live in fear of what’s to come or do we live in faith for the coming day? Brothers and sisters, we are called to live in faith knowing that our hope is founded in the promises of God. Jesus told His disciples that he would be crucified but would be raised to life. As the disciples waited on Saturday in fear of the Jews, I’m sure their minds (or hearts) didn’t recall Jesus’ promise to live again. Let us live in the promise of what we will celebrate tomorrow! For this Holy Saturday, there is provided for you a Psalm, a Gospel reading, a dramatic reading, and a short prayer. Please take a few moments and use this guide to remind us of the hope and promise we have in Jesus.
Psalm 130 This is a metrical version of this Psalm. You can sing it to the tune we sing for “Amazing Grace.” 1. Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord, now hear my voice! 2. Let Your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy voiced. 3. If You, O Lord, recorded sins, Then who, O Lord, could stand? 4. But with You there’s forgiveness, and therefore, we fear Your hand.
5. I wait, my soul waits for the Lord; His word’s my hope and stay. 6. My soul waits for the Lord more than the watchmen wait for day. Yes, more than watchmen wait for morn, I wait for God above. 7. O Is-ra-el, put hope in this— The Lord’s unfailing love. For with the Lord is steadfast love, Redemption full and free; 8. For He will redeem Is-ra-el, From all iniquity. A Metrical Psalter, Julie and Timothy Tennent
John 19:38-42
(New Living Translation)
Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away. With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth. The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before. And so, because it was the day of preparation for the Jewish Passover and since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.
“Stolen” by Dave Tippett This was the end. A ministry lost. Wrenched away. Stolen. The mob, below him mocking his broken body on the cross. You saved others, they shouted. Save yourself! Can’t you read the sign above you? “This is the king of the Jews!” Vinegar for the king! Some king, they say to each other. He’s lost everything. Good thing I’m pure. Never wrong. No crimes in my heart. I’m no thief under no sentence that I know of. But a thief was there. Labeled as such. Two, in fact on either side crucified with Christ. Mocking by one thief attacking Jesus. Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself! And us! That thief wanted proof. His rage blinded him. Robbed him of his ability to truly see the truth right next to him as do we when we rage.
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The second thief rebuked the first, don’t you fear God? We deserve the sentience we are under. Yet this man, this Jesus has done nothing wrong. Yet this second thief was still unsure. He wondered to himself, Aren’t you the messiah? Or just another one of us? He thought to himself. I don’t know what to expect when I die. I’m scared. Then, turning from fear, he asks Jesus, remember me. In his reply to this thief, Jesus is… Jesus. Even at the end in his agony and humiliation, Jesus shares hope of a forever with him. To the second thief, Jesus replies, Today, you will be with me in paradise. Fear stolen. Hope purchased. His sentence, our sentence commuted. What steals your ability to see truth? We allow fear, anxiety, anger, circumstance to rob us of joy, peace, hope. Continued on next page
The cross reminds us that the only thief is denial. New life springs when we have faith in the One who offers life never ending. The invitation remains open. Waiting. Paradise found. Let Us Pray O God, Creator of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this Holy Saturday, so we may await with him the coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of life; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (The Book of
Common Prayer)