Little is said in the Scriptures about this day. The only mention of it is that the women rested, and then this passage: Matthew 27:62-66.

Yet I wonder what went through the minds of the various characters associated with this day.

Jewish Leaders – obviously from this passage – still paranoid as they broke Jewish tradition and laws to go out during the Sabbath, and to go before a gentile, to seek a guard around the tomb. They obviously had been listening to some of what Jesus said, and were concerned that the disciples would make something happen.

What was the report of the priests serving in the temple when the curtain was ripped from top to bottom? Did it give any of them pause about the events of the day? How many of the priests going about their duties had no idea about the events surrounding Christ that day?

They probably then rested and celebrated that this thorn in their sides was gone.

Pilate – did he think any further about the conversation he had with Jesus? About what is truth? Or did he just go about his day as any other day. Did his wife say anything further to him on the topic? What was PIlate’s wife’s dream, and what came of it?

Simon of Cyrene – after having carried the cross of Christ part way, what was the conversation he had with his sons? How did he explain the blackness of the day and the earthquake and the events in years to come? Did he come to follow Christ?

Centurion who said “surely this man was the Son of God” – what did he tell his family and friends? Was he mocked by any of the other soldiers for this statement? Did he tell others?

Ordinary people – the blackness was complete. The earthquake was real. Reports of dead people walking about and prophecying. How was this reported and received? Or was it just forgotten, and just another Sabbath celebrated as if nothing had happened?

Disciples – I know from what I will read tomorrow that most of them hid. Many of them hid together, fearing for their lives that they were next.

Wondering what happened? Were they numb or making plans? Did they compare notes?

Who all was at the cross (we know John was)?

How could they have been so wrong about Jesus? Wasn’t He the one to overcome the Romans and return Israel to its glory?

How did Judas get so far?

How was the guilt weighing on Peter? What did he say to them about the trial and events of the previous night?

For me, as I sit here knowing that Sunday is coming, that Christ conquers death and the tomb, today is an odd day in the Easter weekend. The significance and somber tones of yesterday, and the celebration and rejoicing of tomorrow, yet there is today.

It is the Sabbath – the seventh day – and Christ rested. When He created the world, on day 6, God saw all that He had made, and called it very good. And then He rested.

On the cross, Christ cried out “It is finished.” The sacrifice was complete. As in Hebrews 10:14, “because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (NIV). And He rested.

The thief on the cross was in paradise with Him, worshiping.

Did the angels know what was coming next? Did they know that there was one more conquering act that Christ would perform?

So today I rest. I rest in the knowledge that I serve a risen Saviour.

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