Holy Saturday

Good Friday gives witness to humanity's rejection of God's witness to love, grace, and forgiveness by nailing the one who incarnates the living God in our midst to a cross. Tomorrow we will come to the tomb, discover it be empty, and realize that our no has been overcome by God's yes. Easter is God's vindication of Jesus, his message, and his mission.

But, this Saturday, the time in between. The gospels are silent, Jesus is in the tomb -- or so we suppose. There are suggestions as to what is happening on Holy Saturday. 1 Peter 3:18-19 offers this cryptic statement:

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, . . .


This brief statement is reflected in the Apostles Creed, which declares that after his death, Jesus "descended into Hell." Hell, of course, is not what we usually conceive it to be. Instead, it is the Jewish sheol, the abode of the dead. Tradition suggests that at this point Jesus descended into sheol, and freed those held captive -- "the spirits in prison." Those who were faithful to this point, now experience resurrection.

Such is theological speculation -- but it does remind us that even in death, Jesus is bearing witness to God's grace. Our no, will not keep God from saying yes.

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