The Saturday in between Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection is called the day of the Great Silence. It’s a day when all seems lost. Hope itself has been killed and buried. Heaven itself seems silent. And yet, at the time of creation God designated this day as a Sabbath day, a Holy day, a Blessed day! It is no coincidence that this day of great silence fell on a Sabbath day! Remember Jesus’ words in Mark 2:27-28
And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.

This day of despair and perceived death, was also a day of Sabbath and a gift to mankind. In the natural it would seem so hard to reconcile these two. The women who had been preparing spices and fragrances to anoint Jesus’ body had to wait and rest on the Sabbath day as commanded in Luke 23:56
“Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.”

I wonder how well they rested. Maybe physically they rested, but can I only assume the great grief and discouragement all the disciples were going through. Many of them had followed Him for years and been discipled by Him. They loved Him and He loved them. They were hoping (Luke 24:21) that He was the one who was about to redeem Israel.

Maybe if this hadn’t been a God ordained Sabbath day, there could have been turmoil in the streets, riots, unrest, fear. Maybe the disciples would have tried to do something in their own strength and grief. Maybe the religious leaders would have tried to kill them …. maybe …. maybe …. maybe …..

And yet we now know that this day when Heaven seemed quiet in the natural is the day of Jesus victory. While Scripture does not explicitly chronologically record exactly what happened on that day, we know that Jesus was raised from the dead as the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Cor 15:20), He now holds the keys of death and Hades (Rev 1:18), and that the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. (Mat 27:53). Heaven was at work bringing about the redemption of mankind.

So when we experience days of great silence in our own lives, days of darkness and despair, what should our response be? May we remember the Lord of the Sabbath and put our trust in Him. May we pause and wait allowing room for the Holy Spirit to do what only He can do! May we keep our eyes on Jesus, knowing where our help comes from …. “it comes from the Lord, Maker of Heaven and Earth” (Ps. 121:2)

There is a promise of resurrection and redemption after death and burial to all who believe in Jesus as Messiah! Hold fast to that Hope and let Hope hold fast to you.