Holy Saturday | Day 7 of Hope Week

This devotional is the seventh installment in our Hope Week devotional series—following Jesus' journey from the gates of Jerusalem, to the cross, to the hope of the empty tomb. Join us every day from March 29 to April 5 to re-experience the story of His sacrifice and the magnitude of His love!

Today, let's reflect on the events of Holy Saturday—the day of waiting.

“On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment” (v. 56).

How many times have we rushed past this verse? I know I have.

At this point, Jesus had already been killed. His body had been taken down from the cross, wrapped in linen, and laid in the tomb. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus had taken care of Jesus’ body. The women closest to Jesus followed, taking note of where He was laid, before they prepared spices and ointments.

And then…they rested.

Rest? Now—after all they’ve just witnessed? The Messiah has been crucified. The one they believed was the hope of Israel now lies silent behind a stone. Heaven feels quiet. God’s promises seem shattered.

And yet Luke tells us they rested “according to the commandment.”

They obeyed. They kept Sabbath—even when it felt like God had failed.

This is one of the most understated acts of faith in the Gospels. They did not yet know Sunday was coming. We read the story with resurrection hindsight, but they lived it in real time—with confusion, grief, and unanswered questions weighing on their hearts. And still—they rested.

Sabbath, at its core, is an act of trust. It says, “God is working even when I am not.” It declares that the world is upheld not by my anxiety, but by His sovereignty.

In verse 55, we see the women preparing spices. They made plans. They intended to return and finish the work needed to take care of Jesus’ body. Then, they stopped and obeyed the clear words they had from God—even while everything else felt unclear.

That is faith.

Easter is not only about resurrection power. It is also about trust and patience, that God is working even when we can’t see. There is always a Saturday between crucifixion and victory. A space where heaven may seem silent. A day where obedience feels ordinary and hope feels fragile.

Holy Saturday reminds us of this: God continues to work even in the moments of silence.

Because while they rested, the greatest reversal in human history was underway. Sin was defeated, death was disarmed, and the grave was being emptied—before anyone knew it.

There are seasons when prayers feel unanswered, outcomes feel uncertain, and resurrection just doesn’t seem possible. This passage teaches us what to do in that space.

Rest. Obey. Trust the character of God more than the current moment.

They rested because of a command, but we rest because of a Person.

The tomb was not the end. Sunday was already on its way. This Holy Saturday, let’s rest and wait for what we know God will do tomorrow.

Where in your life might you be waiting for a resurrection? How can you practice resting and trusting God’s timing in that waiting?

At Crossroads, Easter is more than a day. It's the culmination of a week of expectation—as we follow Jesus from the gates of Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, to the cross on Good Friday, to His triumphant resurrection that first Easter morning.

Explore our Hope Week services and resources via the button below. We invite you to experience the sorrow, victory, and joy of the salvation story like never before!