Holy Saturday Vigil
Holy Saturday Vigil
Holy Saturday Vigil
In our day, communities hold vigil when loved ones die in some tragic event. Mourners light candles and offer prayers as a way of processing their grief, honoring the dead, and saying goodbye. But that is not what we have come here to do this evening.
The word “vigil” literally means “wakefulness” and refers to a period of watchful waiting. The earliest Christians held vigil services for spiritual preparation on the eve of significant feast days. The ancient Easter Vigil would begin late on Holy Saturday evening and a liturgy of prayers and scripture readings was observed through the night. Easter morning culminated in baptisms and a meal, bringing a two-day fast to a joyful close.
And so it is that Easter begins right here and now, in the pre-dawn hours before Jesus’ resurrection. While His death is a sobering reality that we want to dwell in for a while, this is the beginning of our Easter celebration, the beginning of our celebration, for we have absolute confidence that this grave will be empty in just a few short hours. The whole of our faith depends on it.
“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
Instructions
Use this guide to direct your own time of worship here, at the tomb. The scripture references include page numbers for the Bibles located at the end of each row. Read this guide thoughtfully and pause at any word or idea that prompts further reflection. Welcome the silence and resist the urge to hurry through it. During times of prayer, take a different posture than your norm. Try kneeling, bowing, or standing; direct your eyes upward or at the cross on stage; raise or open your hands palms-up in a posture of receptivity.
Finally, please note that the service will end promptly at 7:30 PM to allow our team time to prepare the facilities for Sunday morning.
Preparation
To begin, take a few minutes to simply sit and be still. Take a few slow, deep breaths, focus your mind on the cross and tomb, pray for a quiet and contrite heart, and then just allow the silence to sink in. Be present in what you observe for a time before continuing.
Remember
which means “the place of the skull.”
What happened here?
Last Sunday, Jesus made His “triumphal entry” into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, just as Zechariah had prophesied: “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
The people of the city greeted Him with honor, waved palm branches, and cried out to Him, “Hosanna!” (“Save us!”) But when the chief priests and teachers of the law heard the uproar, they were indignant. Imagine them whispering to one another, already plotting how to put an end to this imposter “king.”
It was those same self-righteous, religious elites that Jesus spent much of His time confronting in the Temple this past Monday through Wednesday. He turned over tables of money changers in righteous anger, declaring that God’s house is a house of prayer, not greed. Many who were blind, or lame, came to see Him there, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and teachers of the law saw His acts of mercy, they were outraged and began to question Jesus’ authority. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.”
Two nights ago, we shared a communion meal with Jesus and His disciples in the upper room. Jesus gave us “a new command” (new “mandate”/”maundy”) to love one another just as He has loved us. Those words take on new meaning tonight as we consider the full measure that He poured out for us. After dinner, Jesus went with His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray.
We then heard the Good Friday account of His betrayal, arrest, trial, and suffering. Pilate, unable to appease the riotous crowd, ordered Jesus’ crucifixion. The Roman soldiers stripped Him naked, mockingly crowned Him with skull-piercing thorns, spat in His face, ripped out His beard, and tortured Him to the brink of death. The soldiers’ nine-tail whips, fitted as they were with shards of glass, bone, and metal, cut through the air with a whoosh, followed by a loud crack on Jesus’ back, face, and chest. Each blow tore flesh to ribbons. Soon, He was so severely disfigured that one could no longer identify Him as a human being. In response, the people cheered and grew emboldened to hurl insults and profanities at the Lord of Life.
He was then told to carry His cross up to the hill on which He would be crucified. One long spike was driven between the bones of His crossed legs. Another large nail was driven between the bones in each wrist to pin Him to the wooden beam. Standing the cross up, it settled into the hole prepared for it in ground with a jolt, and Jesus began to slowly suffocate under His own weight.
After some time, we noticed His sharp gasps for breath suddenly stopped, and He exhaled for the last time. A deep darkness descended upon us, such that we could somehow feel it in our bones, and we left with the sobering realization that it was our sin, not His, that warranted so great a punishment as this.
A heavy blanket of darkness prevails tonight, at His tomb. But we are not here to mourn Him; we are here to mourn our sin, and to repent of it. We remember the magnitude of His sacrifice and dwell in the darkness that precedes dawn’s light. Tonight, we hold vigil, remaining watchful through the night for the moment of His resurrection. If you feel the heavy weight of your sin or its payment, only let that sorrow further magnify the unspeakable joy of tomorrow’s dawn. Sunday is coming!
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 12:24)
Read
Imagine that you were there to witness the events unfold in real time.
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.
The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.
Matthew 27:57-66
Reflect
What happened after Jesus died on the cross?
- John 19:34 reports that a soldier thrust his spear into Jesus’ side (likely into His heart) and witnesses observed “blood and water” flowing from the wound. In medical terms, Jesus had suffered a haemothorax (accumulation of blood in the chest cavity), undoubtedly from the savage beating He had endured. When a dead body is still, the blood separates into two layers: the heavier red blood cells sink while the lighter, watery plasma cells rise. When the spear was withdrawn, the red cells (blood) would have gushed out first, followed by the lighter plasma (water), which was definitive proof of death.
- By Roman law, no less than four professional executioners would have signed Jesus’ death warrant, each verifying that He was deceased.
- Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus received permission from Pilate to bury Jesus’ body in Joseph’s tomb.
- According to custom, they took Jesus’ naked body from the cross, washed it, laid it on a long linen sheet, more than twice the length of His body, which was folded over His head and tucked under His feet.
- Burial spices were mixed into a thick, sticky paste for coating the many long strips of linen that were then used to mummify Him. This wrapping would have weighed about 100 pounds.
- Beginning with His feet and working up towards His head, the strips of linen were wrapped tightly around every inch of His body.
What can 2,000 years of scholarship tell us about Jesus’ tomb?
- The tomb was cut into the bedrock of a hill.
- The doorway was 4 ½ – 5 feet tall.
- The mouth was covered over by a stone that resembled a huge disc, set in a groove in the rock and rolled into a divot.
- Engineers estimate that the stone would have weighed between 3,000 and 4,000 pounds.
- The tomb was guarded by a unit of 4-16 highly trained Roman soldiers.
- Under Roman law, a soldier was not permitted to sit or lean on anything while on duty. If found sleeping on the job, he would be burned alive.
- To prevent tampering with the contents of the tomb, a cord was stretched across the covering stone, fastened by sealing clay to both the stone and the rock face from which the tomb opening was cut, and the official signet of the Roman government was stamped into the clay.
- Anyone who broke the seal would be crucified upside down.
Who has believed what he has heard from us?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people?
And they made his grave with the wicked
and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.
Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because he poured out his soul to death
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and makes intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah 53
Roughly 700 years after Isaiah wrote those prophetic words, Jesus came and fulfilled each and every one.
Prophecy: “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (Is. 53:1)
Fulfillment: “Though [Jesus] had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” (John 12:37-38)
Prophecy: “He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief, and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” (Is. 53:3)
Fulfillment: Jesus was a “man of sorrows” (Luke 22:28, et al)
Prophecy: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.” (Is. 53:4)
Fulfillment: “That evening they brought to [Jesus] many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.” (Matt. 8:16-17)
Prophecy: “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds, we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way, and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Is. 53:5-6)
Fulfillment: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10); “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45); “…you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” (1 Peter 1:18-19); “…by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” (Revelation 5:9).
Prophecy: “He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death.”
Fulfillment: In Luke 23:50-53, we read that Jesus was buried in the tomb of a wealthy man named Joseph of Arimathea.
Jesus fulfilled hundreds of other prophecies. More than that, He resembled a perfected type of all the failed heroes in scripture. He is the true and better Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua… “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, [Jesus] explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27)
Take five minutes to marvel at all that He has done for you. Beginning with the sacrifice He gave for your salvation, recall specific ways He has been faithful to you. What are some of the needs He has provided? How do you see Him at work in your life? With each example that comes to mind, give thanks and let His Spirit renew your confidence and hope that “He will yet be faithful to make good on His promises.” (Heb. 10:23)
Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:1-8
Pray
Ask God to search you completely. If you can, open your hands, palms facing upward in a posture of readiness to receive His wisdom. Allow Him to sift through the affections of your heart and reveal to you any area in which you live “for human passions.” Pray for grace to live, instead, “for the will of God.”
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
Romans 8:1-4
Kneel
At this time, please move to the foot of the cross and stand or, if you can, kneel in front of the stage for prayer.
Begin by thanking God for all that He has done. Set your candle on the stage and look at the cross as you speak with Jesus. Lean into His nearness and affection for you.
When you have given thanks, pray for the lost people in your world. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring to mind any neighbors, coworkers, or family members that need the saving power of Jesus. Pray for each one’s salvation by name.
See Psalm 136 if you would like some specific prayer prompts.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and brought Israel out from among them,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who divided the Red Sea in two,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
but overthrew[a] Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who led his people through the wilderness,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
to him who struck down great kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and killed mighty kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and Og, king of Bashan,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and gave their land as a heritage,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
a heritage to Israel his servant,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
and rescued us from our foes,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
he who gives food to all flesh,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Close your time of prayer with the words of the Psalmist:
“Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer. LORD, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you. I am counting on the LORD; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.”
Psalm 130:1-6
If anyone came to mind when you were praying for salvation, be bold and invite them to church in the morning so they can hear the gospel and witness the power of God in our worship. Don’t be discouraged or give up if they say no to Easter Sunday. We’re here every week! Keep pursuing them in love.
Benediction
“And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.’”
Luke 9:22-24
“Though sorrow may last for the night, joy comes in the morning.”
Psalm 30:5