Holy Saturday

Rev. Larry Bowden

It was the preparation day for the Sabbath, and the Sabbath was quickly approaching.  The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph from Arimathea, who had taken Jesus’ body from the cross.  They saw the tomb, and how Jesus’ body was laid in it, then they went away and prepared fragant spices and perfumed oils.  They rested on the Sabbath, in keeping with the commandment. – Luke 23:54-56 (alt.) CEB

The other days of Holy Week have distinctive names.  Palm Sunday.  Maundy Thursday.  Good Friday.  Easter Sunday.  But the Saturday after Good Friday and before Easter has to make do with a generic “Holy”.  Surely we could have come up with something better than “Holy” for the day when Jesus’ body lies in the tomb, and the disciples are gripped by grief and fear.  What’s holy about that?

Several years ago, I noticed that this day felt different.  One church I served had its Easter Egg Hunt on the Saturday before Easter, and, while my kids enjoyed it, it always felt a little forced to me.  I didn’t feel like celebrating.  I wanted to stay home, and stay in.  Be quiet.  It was like I was waiting for something.  It finally dawned on me.  On that Saturday, it was like someone had died.

If we do Lent and Holy Week right, by Holy Saturday, we are tired.  We are weary from all the services and the planning and the working.  Our time of spiritual emptying, of fasting, is drawing to a close.  It’s the last day of Lent, and we are ready to give up what we have given up.  We are closer on this day to name our need for God than we’ve been at any time.  Maybe “holy” is appropriate.  It’s holy to wait in hope.  It’s holy to admit we are spent and weary.  It’s holy to grieve, and it’s holy to long for something different, for new life.

Between the cross and the empty tomb is where we live our lives.  And because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, all our days, even the empty ones and dark ones, are graced by his presence.  We may not be able to see it.  We may be weary or stricken with our pain and grief.  But beneath and in all of that, God is at work preparing us for the gift of new life in Jesus.  Today is Saturday, but Sunday’s coming.

Holy God, you work in us in ways we cannot see and know, to make us ready to receive with joy the salvation you offer in your son Jesus.  Help us to wait with hope, and strengthen our faith.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Living Water for a Thirsting World
Rev. Janet Chilcote        

Read John 19:28-30.        

After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth.

One of the first phrases I learned in the Shona language of Zimbabwe,” ndipe mvura”(dee-pay mm-voo-rah) was taught to me by toddlers at the Babyfold Orphanage at Old Mutare Mission where I served for 2 years as a UM missionary . This home to 40 infants and toddlers was one of the few places in the country able to care for babies found abandoned or whose mothers died in childbirth. When I entered the courtyard of the Babyfold, I was instantly surrounded by a swarm of little ones holding up tiny cups, or broken bits of toys and crying out “Ndipe mvura!!” “Give me water!!” You see, with the few staff and many children, they were only given a drink at the set feeding times for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But sitting or playing in the hot African sun, the children were perpetually thirsty. I could spend the whole day simply standing by the sink, filling cup after cup of water and giving it to eager little hands that received the precious gift with great joy! It was very little for me, but for them, it was extraordinary when someone heard their cry “ndipe mvura” and provided the cool, refreshing drink.

Water is life, and by his entering into human form, Jesus, too, became vulnerable to the experience of thirst and the physical need for water to survive. We recall his request for water from the Samaritan women at the well, in the hot midday sun in John 4: 7.  And he alone could offer her the source of “living water” that would never run dry or cause thirst again, and she begged for it!

So as Jesus hung on the cross, hour after hour, he fully experienced all the pain, and agony of our human condition. But as to His physical suffering, he spoke only this  “I am thirsty” . From birth to death, the ultimate, the most basic human need- water.   As a nurse having worked with dying persons, I know that thirst is indeed a terrible suffering for those unable to drink. And in those two words, Jesus revealed his empathetic connection to all people who suffer thirst- to orphans in Africa, to the sick and dying, to farmers standing in drought ravaged fields, to women walking miles to fill buckets of muddy, brackish water.

“I thirst” is also an invitation to the act of hospitality, so important in the Middle Eastern culture- to compassionately offer food and water to anyone in need. Indeed, Jesus says in Matthew 10:42 that anyone who offers” even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones” will not lose their reward. So imagine the pain of Jesus, being denied even the simplest act of human care and kindness and offered sour wine instead.

Recalling the woman at the well, I’m reminded also of spiritual thirst.  I believe the thirsting Jesus on the cross, at the well, and today is the same Jesus thirsting- thirsting, longing deep, deep down to draw all people to Him. He thirsts to provide the life-giving spiritual water that alone satisfies and nourishes our souls and gives real life. He longs to quench our thirst and fill us with His life-giving Spirit .And His parting words from the cross call us to meditate today on our own soul thirsting. 

Where are you parched and dry?  Where have you become de-hydrated, withered and in need of fresh watering for your souls. Look around you? Where is the thirsting Jesus in your home, neighborhood or workplace? The one whose eyes long for a look of compassion or a gift of love, and whose empty hands reach out with a cry of “Ndipe mvura” …

Prayer: O Thirsting Jesus, we cannot tell you how thankful we are that you came to earth for us and loved us enough, even to die in agony and thirst for our sakes. Lord, fill us today with your life-giving water; revive our dried, brittle souls!  Use us, Lord as your water carriers- living water wellsprings that splash on and refresh others with our compassion, care and kindness. May we become more like Jesus, for Jesus’ sake!  Amen.

Maundy Thursday

Jesus washes the disciples feet.

John 13, selected verses

     Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.

    He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" 

     Jesus answered, "You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand."  

    Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." 

     Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me."      

     Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!"

     Jesus said to him, "One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you." For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, "Not all of you are clean."

      After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them."

     "Little children, I am with you only a little longer.  I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

     We call this day Maundy Thursday.  Maundy comes from the Latin word, mandatum, referring to the new commandment Jesus gave his disciples the last night he spent with them before his crucifixion. 

     Jesus knew this was his last night with these special friends, that one of them would betray him, another would deny that he knew him, and most would run and hide.  Jesus had spent most of three years with these twelve men, and must surely have wondered if they were ever going to “get it.”  He didn’t spend these last hours telling them to take notes of last-minute instructions and reminders of things to be sure they did once he was gone. 

     Jesus taught that night by modeling love and humility.  In the first verses of this passage, we are told two important things: that Jesus knew that his earthly ministry was coming to an end, and that he loved his people.  Before the meal, Jesus knelt down and washed the feet of each of his disciples.  Not just a few of them – all of them, even Judas who would betray him, and Peter who would deny knowing him three times before the next morning.  What wondrous love is this!

     Once Jesus finished washing the feet of all the disciples, he clearly explained what he had done and what their faithful response to this act should be .  You should wash one another’s feet... Love each other deeply and fully. Remember the ways that I have loved you and demonstrate your love for others in those same ways.  Everyone will know you as my followers if you demonstrate your love to others (The Voice Bible).

     The call for the disciples that night was to fully accept Jesus’ gesture of love and to be shaped by that love. Using Jesus as our example, our call is to love one another with no limits, no boundaries, no restrictions.  Jesus does not ask us to follow him by giving up our lives, but by giving away our lives.  To love as Jesus loves is to live a life fully shaped by a love whose expression brings us in closer relationship with Jesus, with God, and with one another.  

Loving God,

You sent your only Son, Jesus, to show us your great love for us.  
Help us to love others as you love us, 
     to serve others in the name of Jesus Christ,

so that all those who see the way we live will know that we follow Jesus.

Amen.