MATTHEW 27:59-60
The scene of the burial of Jesus is one of the most emotional in all of scripture for me. Matthew’s gospel tells us it is Joseph of Arimethea who asked for Jesus’ body. In John’s gospel, Nicodemus was there too. His presence makes us believe that somehow he did understand Jesus when he had a conversation at night with Him about being born again.
With the shock and horror of the crucifixion still fresh in their memory, Jesus was placed into the arms of the earth (in a sepulchre).
These scenes heralded Holy Saturday. While the movement of Palm Sunday was one of entry, and that of Easter morning was that of rising, Holy Saturday was one of descent. Jesus must descend from the cross into the depths of the earth before His resurrection.
Holy Saturday invites us to move beyond a privatized understanding of salvation to consider our relationship to the earth. As we rise up each day, what have we really done to change or influence the earth? Jesus said we are the salt of the earth and we must ensure that we have not lost our taste (Matthew 5:13).
Photo: Alex Kulikov
