Silent Saturday

The sabbath sun sets, casting its shadows over the holy city. Jerusalem had never witnessed such a Passover - but now, the mob has disbanded, the proclaimed prophet from Nazareth has been laid behind a sealed tomb as Mary weeps, dreams die and disillusioned disciples lock the doors behind them - so many questions, as puzzled, pain-filled eyes stare into an unknown future in fear.  

The quiet hours settle down over the Garden and a tired city looks eerie as the full Passover moon hangs in the Palestinian night sky. 

But the scenes of silence belie the commotion in the world below. While the cold, crucified corpse lies wrapped in spice-soaked linen, the spirit of the eternal Christ descends to the dungeons of the damned, to the world of demons and death - there to make an announcement that ripples throughout the region of ruin and rebellion. 

Peter paints the picture like this: 

1 Peter 3:19 TPT

He went in the spiritual realm and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison

He entered into Hades - the underworld of lost, fallen spirits not to preach the gospel but to proclaim His absolute and undisputed victory over death, hell and the grave. 

 He spoke with the same power as when He said: “Let there be light” in the Genesis of creation. 

While Jerusalem slept and the noiseless city slumbered, the gates of hell shook as they realized their evil scheme was more than matched by wisdom and wonder of the Christ who would soon re-enter his still body in the garden tomb and rise up to live forever more. 

 Sleep on Jerusalem, your King cannot be contained in a cut out cave. Sleep on discouraged Disciples, your Master is marching through the halls of Hades - soon He will break the chains of death forever. 

He will not be gone for long - soon the angels will be dispatched to roll the stone away and He will come out from the regions of death holding the keys, never to die again. 

He was not R.I.P.- resting in peace He was reigning in power !!

Randy B. Leavitt