Good morning, Saints, on this Holy Saturday. I pray that thus far your Lenten journey and Holy Week observations have been an exercise in lament and a deepening of your faith as we together prepare for the triumphant return of Christ on Easter Sunday, a holy celebration of the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ!

Today is Holy Saturday. Yesterday, we observed the death of Jesus Christ, who was barbarously crucified on the cross for our sins and because of our sins. Jesus’ body was cared for and physically laid to rest in a tomb as described by scripture: 

After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. John 19:38-42

That was just prior to sundown on Good Friday, after His crucifixion. Today, Holy Saturday, we wait; we feel separation, loneliness, and grief at the loss of our Lord – agony, anxiety, and lament. What now? We’re alone. Can you imagine how Jesus’ disciples must have felt? We know the rest of the story; we anxiously await to celebrate the resurrection on Easter Sunday. We also know the hope of Easter Sunday. It is comforting to be on this side of HIS-story and hard to imagine the doubt and agony the disciples must have felt. Is it true? Is what Jesus said real? He promised victory over death and life beyond this one, can it be?  

Yes! It’s true. Saints, we’re so blessed to have such hope! HE IS RISEN! We know the story, the rest of the story, the resurrection - HE IS RISEN! What a comfort to know that there is more. More beyond our sin, death, and the works of the devil in this world. Jesus conquered the grave, conquered sin, conquered death, and conquered the devil. HE IS RISEN! 

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” Matthew 28:1-10

How do we know? The Apostle Paul says, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-8. If it’s good enough for St. Paul, it’s good enough for me. Amen!

In closing, this past week, Holy Week, we concluded our observation, study, and celebration of Holy Week and Easter with a special production: a Tenebrae and Easter Service. Tenebrae is a prolonged meditation on Christ's suffering. Readings trace the story of Christ's passion, the music portrays his pathos, and the power of silence and darkness suggests the drama of this momentous event. As lights are extinguished, we ponder the depth of Christ's suffering and death; we remember the cataclysmic nature of his sacrifice as we hear the overwhelming sound of the "strepitus", and the mighty Easter hymn at the conclusion of the service signals the ultimate victory. I hope you are able to set time aside to view this production today, Holy Saturday Easter Vigil, between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, a time of waiting. He is risen! Amen!

CLICK FOR THE GOOD FRIDAY / EASTER CHAPEL VIDEO

Lastly, I’d like to thank the following for their efforts to compose and perform this Tenebrae Easter Service. This is in direct support and fulfillment of our Crean Lutheran High School’s mission: Proclaiming Jesus Christ Through Excellence in Education!

• Dr. Elliott Bark, Director, Conductor, and Soloist
• Chamber Choir, Saints Singers, Symphony Orchestra
• IT Team for all the lights, sound, and stage
• Sidra Roche - Skit Writer and Director; Mary
• Brandon Burkett - Jesus
• Matt Enos - Pilate
• Tess Yoon - Peter
• Zach Zhao - Judas
• Kate Berg, Ludovica Manella, Nathan Larson - Disciples
• Grace Jin & Samantha Agle - Soprano Solo

HE IS RISEN, 

Dr. Jeffrey S. Beavers, CEO

Crean Lutheran High School, Irvine, CA

dr.beavers@creanlutheran.org 

 *Photo courtesy of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.