THE WEEK THAT SHOOK HISTORY: A 7-Day Easter Devotion by AussieDave AdamsonSample

Silent Saturday - The Divine Pause

If you're facing uncertainty today, this is for you.

Have you ever wondered what the Saturday after Jesus died was like?

History says Jesus died on Friday and rose on Sunday, which means that the Saturday in between appears to be a time when hope seemed lost for His followers. While we can't know exactly what each disciple was thinking, the Gospel accounts suggest they were fearful, confused, and grieving. They had placed their hopes in Jesus as the Messiah, and His death shattered their expectations.

But that dark day was the middle part of a three-day story... and three-day stories are a theme throughout Scripture.

When you read stories about people like Abraham, Isaac, Jonah or Esther, you see this three-day theme. These stories all describe how something terrible happens on day one, then the characters sit in uncertainty on day two, but on day three God provides a way out. God does this throughout the stories in the Bible...He did with Jesus' resurrection, too!

That Saturday after the crucifixion was a day of uncertainty and sadness...but the next morning, despite the fact that "nobody expected no body," as Andy Stanley says, God provided a way out for us all through an empty tomb!

In Hebrew, "day three" is called "yom shʼlishi" (שיִֽׁליִשְׁ יוֹם֥, pronounced "yohm ha-shʼlishi"), and in Jewish tradition, the number three is a symbol of divine perfection, signifying completeness. For example, Moses went up and down Mount Sinai three times, and the Torah was given in the third month. It seems God often completes His plans in the third act.

Perhaps you're in the middle of a second act today.

You lost your job? Your marriage is in turmoil? You're getting kicked out of your home? A relationship has ended? The test results were bad?

If that's you, remember that Sunday is coming! God will provide a way!

Reflection Question: What "Saturday" are you currently experiencing—a time of waiting, uncertainty, or apparent silence from God? How might this waiting period be preparing you for what God will do next?

Action Step: Read Hosea 6:2 and meditate on God's faithfulness to bring resurrection in your areas of waiting. Write down any insights or encouragement you receive.

Prayer: Father, waiting is one of the hardest things You ask of me. When I'm in my own "Saturday" moments—stuck between loss and hope—help me remember that You're still working even when everything seems dark. Just as You had a plan beyond the grave, I trust You have a purpose beyond my current pain. Strengthen my faith during this in-between time. Thank You that Sunday is coming in my situation too. Amen.