"The God Who Rests"

(a Black Saturday reflection from "Kingdom Come" - Holy Week Retreat of Feast Bay Area)

“Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 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.” Matthew 27:59-60 (NIV)

Black Saturday is a day that often goes unnoticed. For many, it's simply an extra day inserted just to complete the Holy Week. But for Christians, this day carries a deeper weight—it's a day of mourning and silence, the day Jesus was lay in the tomb, lifeless.

I often wonder how the disciples felt on that day. Imagine, the Man they followed, who promised them a new life and a greater hope, now died. They must have felt confused, lost, even abandoned. Was this really the Messiah? Had they made the right choice in following Him? Hope, it seemed, had died along with Him.

Jesus promised He would rise again on the third day. It would’ve been convenient if He resurrected right after His death—no waiting, no doubts, no pain. But why did He chose the path of waiting?

As I learned in today’s talk, Jesus invites us to hope even in the silence. He teaches us that waiting has purpose. It reveals who we are. Do we grow bitter? Do we lose faith when nothing seems to be happening? In this season, we are reminded that God is always working—quietly, behind the scenes. He is shaping us, strengthening us, preparing us for something greater. Even if it’s painful, even if we don’t understand it now, we trust that the God who holds all things together is leading us to a blessing far greater than we imagined.

The best is yet to come!

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Prayer:

Dear Lord,

As we hold on to Your promise of resurrection, remind us that with You, hope is never lost. Help us to trust and believe in Your Word, knowing that something greater lies beyond what we can see. And even if the blessing we pray for doesn’t come in the way we expect, may we still be grateful—knowing that You work all things together for our good.

Amen.