Holy Saturday! The Scripture reading for today's Upper Room Devotional, is Luke 23:44-56, from the Message Bible. 44 By now it was noon. The whole earth became dark, the darkness lasting three hours - 45 a total blackout. The Temple curtain split right down the middle. 46 Jesus called loudly, "Father, I place my life in your hands!" Then he breathed his last. 47 When the captain there saw what happened, he honored God: "This man was innocent! A good man, and innocent!" 48 All who had come around as spectators to watch the show, when they saw what actually happened, were overcome with grief and headed home. 49Those who knew Jesus well, along with the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a respectful distance and kept vigil. 50 There was a man by the name of Joseph, a member of the Jewish High Council, a man of good heart and good character. 51 He had not gone along with the plans and actions of the council. His hometown was the Jewish village of Arimathea. 52 He lived in alert expectation of the kingdom of God. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Taking him down, he wrapped him in a linen shroud and placed him in a tomb chiseled into the rock, a tomb never yet used. 54 It was the day before Sabbath, the Sabbath just about to begin. 55 The women who had been companions of Jesus from Galilee followed along. They saw the tomb where Jesus' body was placed. 56 Then they went back to prepare burial spices and perfumes. They rested quietly on the Sabbath, as commanded. Devotional: Jesus’ followers were devastated by what had happened on Good Friday. Surely they felt defeated and bewildered, wondering if they were going to die along with Jesus. When our daughter Leslie was an adolescent, she drew a cartoon of Jesus sitting in the tomb before the large stone had been removed. He was looking at a wristwatch and thinking, Any minute now . . . The caption read, “Saturday.” Although that seems like a much-too-innocent view of the crucified Christ, it described the anticipation we feel just before Easter. We who know the rest of the story can look forward to the joy and celebration of the Resurrection. But because we already know what happened next, we may not appreciate the grief and futility that Jesus’ followers experienced on Saturday. The period beginning with Good Friday and ending Easter Sunday morning is an especially appropriate time for fasting. Denying ourselves, reflecting on Jesus’ sacrifice, praying, waiting — these disciplines prepare us for the joy of Easter. As we claim the Resurrection for ourselves, so we share in the sorrow and grief that precede it. Without experiencing the darkness, we cannot fully appreciate the light. David Turner (Texas, USA) Prayer: Father God, help us dare to dwell in the darkness of the tomb for a while today so that we can experience the full joy of Easter morning. Amen.
Once I clicked on the steeple, that was one of the most beautiful Easter cards ever, Terry. Thank you for posting it!
^ Thanks Joe for the info. I figured the original was Jesus but your post is very helpful because I checked out your link which shows that Bouts' paintings were all respectful depictions of Biblical times and not stemming from any type of dark origins, The only thing is the spoof of the easter bunny for comedic effects and I'm okay with that….afterall the resurrection is a happy time of celebration . Vintage Easter Bonnets: