Scripture Reading: Matthew 27:62-66

The man who, on Sunday, rode into Jerusalem being hailed as the Messiah and King was now, on Saturday, in the grave…or so it seemed.

In Matthew’s retelling of this time “in-between” the cross and the resurrection, the chief priests and the Pharisees were quite concerned. In fact, according to Matthew they said, “Sir, we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” Put briefly, the chief priests and Pharisees had a problem on their hands—a big problem.

It was possible that this deceiver—as they saw Jesus—might not yet be done deceiving everyone. Sure, they killed him. But what if his disciples took his body so it appeared as though he rose from the dead? Then this problem they were afraid of would become all too real.

On the other hand if Jesus actually rose from the dead then what couldn’t he do? And if he rose from the dead, then how in the world would they control his disciples? They couldn’t afford to do nothing. They had to get in front of the entire situation. So Pilate commanded, “Take a guard and make the tomb as secure as you know how.” The tomb was then made secure with a large stone being rolled in front and a guard standing a post. It would now be “impossible” for this deceiver to deceive anyone else. This much is clear.

What is less clear is “where” Jesus was during this time between the cross and the resurrection. If we think back to his conversation with the thief on the cross—today you will be with me in paradise—Jesus was in paradise. Although his body was in the tomb, he (in whatever reality that was) was not there. Unfortunately for us (as we often lament), this might be all we’re told about this “in-between” time.

Before we move on to quickly, there is that one verse in 1 Peter 3 where we’re told that Jesus (being made alive) made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits. This, however, I submit has nothing at all to do with this time from the cross and the resurrection but, instead, his ascension to the right hand of the Father in glory and authority.

What are we to say, then, about Holy Saturday? Not a whole lot. And that’s okay. The Bible doesn't say a lot about a lot of things we think we’d like it to. That’s not Scripture’s problem, it’s ours. But, even after saying that, it doesn’t mean we can’t say anything.

The tomb was secure and Jesus’s body was inside, but Jesus was with the thief from Friday to Sunday. This means that contrary to an unfortunate misunderstanding of an ancient translation of both the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed, he was not in hell. It’s a strong contention of mine that we do whatever we can to rid ourselves of the idea that Jesus had to suffer in hell after the cross. Setting aside the fact that he said “it is finished” on the cross, hell is not a final reality right now—it is final judgment. “Death and hades,” as it says in Revelation, “will be thrown into the lake of fire.” But, as I’ve said at other times in other places, this is not the right discussion for this article.

What do we know well for sure? What do we know with no doubt? We know that Jesus died on Friday. We know that he said he would be in paradise after he died. And we know that he resurrected on Sunday. If that’s all we know about this “in-between” time then it is still more than enough.

More than enough, for sure, to get us to one more day—Easter Sunday.