Between the cross and the resurrection, the faithful waited and rested.
“And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.”Luke 23:56 (KJV)
What does “Between” mean in Luke 23:56?
The women prepared spices to honor the body of Jesus and then rested on the Sabbath, as the commandment required. Even in grief, they kept faith with what they knew.
Going deeper
Holy Saturday is the quiet day. Jesus is in the tomb, His followers are frightened and grieving, and nothing seems to be happening. Luke tells us that the women returned, prepared spices and ointments, and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment. Their love did not stop. They planned to finish caring for His body after the Sabbath. They did not know what was coming. They simply did the next faithful thing.
Many of us know what it is to live in between, after a loss and before an answer. Holy Saturday says that this is a place God's people have always had to wait. Do not rush ahead to Sunday today. Let the silence be silence. Do one small faithful thing, as the women did. Rest, pray, and take care of those close to you. Sunrise is coming, and it will be more than they imagined. That is often all that faith looks like on a Saturday.
Reflect
What are you waiting on right now, and what small faithful thing could you do while you wait?
Pray
Lord, in the quiet between sorrow and answer, keep me faithful. Help me to rest and to trust that the morning is coming. In Jesus' name, amen.
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