Day 41 - We Wait
Day 41 - We Wait
Written by: Nathan Boyd
SCRIPTURE FOCUS
Matthew 27:57-67
57 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.
DEVOTION
Today is Holy Saturday. Yesterday, we celebrated and remembered the truth of Good Friday, when Jesus willingly gave his life, dying a humiliating and excruciating death of the cross. Yesterday, the city would have been buzzing and the talk of Jesus’ death would have been the topic of conversation on everyone’s tongue. The dream of Jesus being the long-awaited Messiah had suddenly become a nightmare, and all hope was gone.
The sun sets on Friday and awakes on Saturday morning. However, the scene on the streets of Jerusalem look much different than a few hours before. On this Saturday morning the streets are quiet and everything is moving at a slower pace. Today is the Sabbath, and no work is to be done on this designated day of rest. This meant everything suddenly ceases, there is no anointing of the body, no traveling to get out of the city, no planning meetings for the disciples to determine what would happen next. Everything stops. Everything is quiet. Everyone is still.
The Sabbath is a day that is designed to be kept holy, set aside for a special purpose, a day dedicated to the Lord. The Sabbath is a day of waiting, we refrain from work and we wait on the Lord to work on our behalf. On this Holy Saturday we are challenged to wait with great expectation for Sunday. We don’t jump ahead to the miracle but instead we sit in the stillness of Holy Saturday preparing our hearts for what the Lord is going to do next.
ACTION STEP
While it might be difficult for some families, today slow down long enough to meditate and reflect on the death of Jesus. Don’t immediately jump to the miracle of the resurrection but instead think on the incredible love of Jesus and how he poured out his love through his shed blood on the cross.
Over the next few moments the devotional background music will continue to play, spend time quieting your soul to hear from the Lord and reflect on his sacrifice.
PRAYER TIME
Father, today I wait. Help me to love you more as I sit in the stillness of this moment. Thank you for what you have done for me through your sacrifice and thank you for what we will celebrate tomorrow, your resurrection from the dead.
SCRIPTURE FOCUS
Matthew 27:57-67
57 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.
DEVOTION
Today is Holy Saturday. Yesterday, we celebrated and remembered the truth of Good Friday, when Jesus willingly gave his life, dying a humiliating and excruciating death of the cross. Yesterday, the city would have been buzzing and the talk of Jesus’ death would have been the topic of conversation on everyone’s tongue. The dream of Jesus being the long-awaited Messiah had suddenly become a nightmare, and all hope was gone.
The sun sets on Friday and awakes on Saturday morning. However, the scene on the streets of Jerusalem look much different than a few hours before. On this Saturday morning the streets are quiet and everything is moving at a slower pace. Today is the Sabbath, and no work is to be done on this designated day of rest. This meant everything suddenly ceases, there is no anointing of the body, no traveling to get out of the city, no planning meetings for the disciples to determine what would happen next. Everything stops. Everything is quiet. Everyone is still.
The Sabbath is a day that is designed to be kept holy, set aside for a special purpose, a day dedicated to the Lord. The Sabbath is a day of waiting, we refrain from work and we wait on the Lord to work on our behalf. On this Holy Saturday we are challenged to wait with great expectation for Sunday. We don’t jump ahead to the miracle but instead we sit in the stillness of Holy Saturday preparing our hearts for what the Lord is going to do next.
ACTION STEP
While it might be difficult for some families, today slow down long enough to meditate and reflect on the death of Jesus. Don’t immediately jump to the miracle of the resurrection but instead think on the incredible love of Jesus and how he poured out his love through his shed blood on the cross.
Over the next few moments the devotional background music will continue to play, spend time quieting your soul to hear from the Lord and reflect on his sacrifice.
PRAYER TIME
Father, today I wait. Help me to love you more as I sit in the stillness of this moment. Thank you for what you have done for me through your sacrifice and thank you for what we will celebrate tomorrow, your resurrection from the dead.
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January
January 9th, 2023 - Adventure AwaitsJanuary 10th, 2023 - The Burning BushJanuary 11th, 2023 - Strong and Courageous January 12th, 2023 - Obediently Set ApartJanuary 13th, 2023 - Faithful Among Enemy NationsJanuary 14th, 2023 - Adventure AwaitsJanuary 16th, 2023 - Be StillJanuary 17th, 2023 - God Inhabits His PraisesJanuary 18th, 2023 - Enjoying God's PresenceJanuary 19th, 2023 - Broken & Contrite HeartJanuary 20th, 2023 - Asking for OthersJanuary 21st, 2023 - Petition and ProvisionJanuary 23rd, 2023 - One Body, Many PartsJanuary 24th, 2023 - Love One AnotherJanuary 25th, 2023 - Unity in the BodyJanuary 26th, 2023 - Consider Others BetterJanuary 27th, 2023 - Living in the LightJanuary 28th, 2023 - Don't Let Anger Control YouJanuary 30, 2023 - The Power of FastingJanuary 31st, 2023 - Pray as You Can
February
February 1st, 2023 - ScriptureFebruary 2nd, 2023 - Sabbath Day, Best DayFebruary 3rd, 2023 - SimplicityFebruary 4th, 2023 - WorshipFebruary 6th, 2023 - Love Your NeighborFebruary 7th, 2023 - Come and See, Go and TellFebruary 8th, 2023 - GenerosityFebruary 9th, 2023 - Caring for the VulnerableFebruary 10, 2023 - HospitalityFebruary 11th, 2023 - Build
2022
January
Covid UpdateDay 1 - Is It Worth It?Day 2 - God Promises His PresenceDay 3 - Aligning Ourselves With GodDay 4 - The Voice of the ShepherdVision 2022 - Begins this Sunday!Day 5 - Rushing or Resting?Day 6 - "By the Grace of God"Day 7 - A Day for Rest and WorshipDay 8 - Ask Boldly and Surrender CompletelyDay 9 - Our Deliverance for His GloryDay 10 - Ask for the ImpossibleDay 11 - Adversity Meets Unwavering FaithWhat an incredible start to 2022!!Day 12 - Focus Reveals FaithDay 13 - Impossible Mission!Day 15 - Followers of JesusDay 16 - The Good News of God’s LoveDay 17 - Radical Love Leads People to JesusLet's Try this Again...Day 18 - Relentless CommitmentDay 19 - Unending Power SourceDay 20 - Come and See, Go and TellDay 22 - Many Parts, One BodyDay 23 - A New Command - Love One AnotherDay 24 - One Body and One LordDay 25 - Be Angry, But Do Not SinDo you Belong?Day 26 - The Commandment of LoveDay 27 - The Attitude and Obedience of Christ
March
Day 1 - Seeking the Lord TogetherDay 2 - Ash WednesdayDay 3 - The Baptism of JesusDay 4 - The Word as a WeaponDay 5 - Freedom in ConfessionDay 6 - Love Your EnemiesDay 7 - Anxious for NothingDay 8 - Effective PrayerDay 9 - Amazing FaithDay 10 - The Bleeding WomanDay 11 - Confidence in GodDay 12 - Fear Not!Day 13 - Come and RestDay 14 - Kingdom Minded CommunityDay 15 - The TreasureDay 16 - Peace in His PresenceDay 17 - Raise the RoofDay 18 - A Parent's CommitmentDay 19 - Too Good to be TrueDay 20 - Only JesusDay 21 - The Ninety-Nine and the OneDay 22 - Salvation Through SurrenderDay 23 - Good Rest from a Good ShepherdDay 24 - Read the RoomDay 25 - A Fruitful FaithDay 26 - The Wedding FeastDay 27 - Serve Like Jesus