Holy Week: Saturday

He descended into the lower parts of the Earth.

(Ephesians 4:9)

Saturday, Jesus is laid to rest “wrapped in spices and linen cloths.” His work is done. On this Sabbath Day we await the Father’s “Yes” to the Work of his Son. That’s why it’s called “The Great Sabbath.” It’s the Sabbath of all Sabbaths. Like the first Sabbath, when God rested after finishing his creative work; so now, God the Son rest after finishing his Work of a New Creation: “It is finished.”

Like Jesus, we too seek rest from our labor. And, like Jesus, there is always suffering in good honest work. It’s not easy caring for the family, providing a home, putting food on the table. It comes “by the sweet of our brow.” We do our work. Then, on Saturday—the Sabbath, we rest and wait to see what God will make of it.

There’s something else—an announcement only Jesus can make concerning what just happened on Mount Calvary: “He descended into the lower parts of the Earth… to proclaim to the spirits in prison, who formerly did not obey…” (Eph 4:9 & 1Pt 3:19-20). “In this way, the gospel was preached even to the dead that though judged in the flesh, they might live in the spirit” (1Pt 4:6). On this day, Christ’s descent from the highest heaven reaches to the lowest earth—from the highest heights to the deepest depths.