Silent Saturday as an “In-between” Space
Generally when entering Easter, most Christians tend to remember Good Friday and Easter Sunday, the experience of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. In fact, there is an event that bridges the two moments, namely Silent Saturday. This event is experienced on Saturday as a bridge that creates an “in-between” space, connecting the death of Christ and His resurrection. Grief still permeates, hearts are troubled by the reality that Jesus the Messiah had to die on the cross. Silent Saturday is a buffer and boundary between Death (Good Friday) and Resurrection (Easter Sunday) so that the three-day story becomes complete. In several church teaching traditions, this moment is also believed as Jesus descending into the Kingdom of Death and triumphing over it (1 Peter 3:19; 4:6; Acts 2:27).
In everyday reality, death means the end of everything, so that is what also crossed the minds of Christ's followers after His death. All the prophecies that the Teacher had conveyed about His resurrection were simply lost and forgotten, hit by the waves of sadness and the pain of His departure. God seemed to be silent about all of that, the intervening day became a very silent space. However, we know that in that silence there was a bright light that was faintly visible from a distance. The darkness did not completely swallow up all reality, because we know that His resurrection as a victory over death was so close. Thus, silent Saturday also became a preparation for the resurrection in the minds of those who awaited Him.
The Silent Tomb Where He Sheltered
The critical point of His death did not only occur when the event occurred but after His death, various responses were born. Those who hated Him, namely the rulers, religious leaders, people who felt disturbed by His presence remained suspicious. The priests and Pharisees went to Pilate and asked that Jesus' tomb be guarded. They remembered Jesus' words that He would rise on the third day. The darkness of their hearts changed the meaning of Jesus' words. The message should have been a message of hope, but for them it was a threat and vigilance that had to be increased because Jesus' disciples would steal the body of His teacher, and say everywhere that He had risen. Those who have been controlled by darkness will never see the news of joy brought by God in Christ, only those who submit themselves to God are able to see that hope.
Maybe that was what was on the mind of Joseph of Arimathea. Who was he? Most likely a prominent person seen from the place and location of the burial that had been prepared for himself. However, in His love for the Master, He was willing to take the risk by asking for Jesus' body from Pilate and placing the body in a well-prepared tomb. The burial was simple. Different from the crowd that accompanied Jesus wherever He went. Now only Joseph of Arimathea, Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary were left to take Christ to His tomb and pay him the best possible respect. The grave became the site of His silent death, but in our deepest hearts we know that God never leaves us. Maybe that's what was also in the minds of those who carried God's body to its end.
Joseph of Arimathea is never mentioned again after that. But his brief presence offers great meaning. Courage and faithfulness to remain on God's side. Let us remain with God in all the situations we face. We are loyal to Him even though our prayers are not answered, sorrows come and go, and heavy struggles hit our lives. Do we still maintain great faith in Him amidst all the doubts and questions that arise in the pilgrimage of faith. Can we always hold fast to the hope that is strongly proclaimed through His resurrection?
Reflective question: What is the meaning of silent Saturday that we can reflect on personally in our pilgrimage of faith?
