[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during April 2025]
Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Saviour,
waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!
From a secular point of view, Easter is over for another year but that is not so for sincere Christians for whom the events at Easter are the primary and constant focus of our faith. The writer to the Hebrews urges us to remember Easter throughout the year:
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12 v2 [NIVUK]
The events of Good Friday are reported in detail in each of the four gospels. We think we know the story well but we often hear the question: “Why is it called ‘Good Friday’?” Other countries use different names for the day but in English the term Good Friday comes from the earlier use of the word ‘good’ to mean pious or holy. More importantly it is ‘good’ for us because it is central to our salvation.
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.’
Acts 4 v12 [NKJV]
Some congregations observe the crucifixion of Jesus on Wednesday to coincide with the Jewish sacrifice of the Passover Lamb. A Wednesday crucifixion of Jesus allows for him to be in the tomb for three days and three nights as he told the Pharisees he would be.
For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Matthew 12 v40 [ESVUK]
What happened on Easter Saturday? Before we can address that question, we have to define what we mean by ‘Easter Saturday’. Whilst the majority of people may think of it as being the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, in some denominations Easter Saturday is the Saturday after Easter Sunday, the seventh day of Eastertide.
So what happened in the period between Good Friday and Easter Sunday? Those who had conspired for his death asked for the tomb to be sealed whilst those who were close to Jesus were mourning and fearful of their own fate. The gospel writers, who wrote retrospectively, are otherwise silent. The Apostles’ Creed does include the line “He descended into hell” but this has very little unambiguous support in the New Testament.
Can we think of this as a day of rest for Jesus? Can we draw any comparisons with the day of rest following the creation in Genesis?
By contrast, Easter Sunday is well documented throughout the New Testament. Jesus did not stay dead; on Easter Sunday Jesus came back to life again.
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’
John 20 v19 [NIVUK]
His resurrection assures us that our sin-debt has been fully paid – a form of receipt, if you will. More than that, it has implications for our present and our future, assuring us of hope and victory.
Up from the grave he arose, with a mighty triumph o’er his foes,
He arose a victor from the dark domain,
And he lives forever, with his saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!
Robert Lowry (1874)
Have you thanked Jesus today?
References:
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Last week’s reflection: The Same Old Story?
Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © Steve Humphreys