2021 Daily Devotion - Day 375

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Holy Saturday

So, what was going on the day after the Crucifixion of Jesus? The governmental and religious leaders were debating how to secure the tomb of Jesus (Matthew 27:62-66). The disciples were in hiding for fear they would be crucified next. In addition, I am sure they were trying to make sense out of all that had happened. They thought they understood what Jesus was teaching. They were hopeful Jesus was the Messiah and would usher in the Kingdom of God as He always talked about. They were wondering what they didn’t get right and what they had missed. But Jesus predicted to them what would happen on the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter.

John 16:20-22 NRSV
Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. When a woman is in labor, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world. So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

Our Holy Saturday is much different than the one experienced by the disciples of Jesus. We know the outcome and what comes on Easter Sunday. And since we do know, we should not only be filled with joy, but also even greater purpose to fulfill the marching orders He gave us in the Great Commission in Matthew 28: “Go and make disciples of all nations….”

Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, we have the benefit of knowing something the first followers did not know – Good Friday is not the end of the story. And since we know “the rest of the story”, use it to motivate us to greater faithfulness and service. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
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