Day 40 – April 19, 2025 (Holy Saturday)

 Holy Saturday was a day of mourning. Less than a week
before, Jesus rode into the city on a donkey – a sign of the coming Messiah
foretold in the Old Testament – with palm branches being waived as the people
shouted “Hosanna, hosanna. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the
Lord.”  Just yesterday, for the people of Jesus’ time, they experienced
his arrest, trial, journey to the hill known as Calvary, where he was crucified
between two thieves. The sky turned black and the Earth shook to it’s core.
Jesus’ body was prepared and placed in a tomb, as was the custom in those days.
Holy Saturday is that quiet day after a great loss where time seemingly stands
still and those who are left behind try to make sense of what they’ve just
experienced.

 Jesus’ disciples were scared. They had been betrayed by one
of their own and the political parties of the time were on the hunt for anyone
associated with Jesus. They hid and mourned.  Holy Saturday was not a good
day.  Just one more day until all would be revealed!

 Today, in our Christian life, we celebrate Easter with an
egg hunt and a big dinner after church.  Easter eggs, often known as
Paschal eggs, are usually dyed and decorated with figures of designs.  The
tradition of dying eggs has been practiced since the Middle Ages, with Orthodox
Christian churches dying the eggs a bright red to signify the life that blood
gives to the body – and the blood that Jesus shed for us. Eggs also symbolize
new life emerging from the eggshell as Jesus rose from the tomb. 

Prayer:  Thank you, Jesus, for loving us so much
that you would go through all you experienced on the cross. Only you are holy
and blameless. We do not deserve your gift, but pray you will make us worthy of
it in all we do. Be with our church, and our families today, as we remember the
everlasting life your sacrifice makes possible for us.  Help us to
experience love and laughter today because our focus looks forward to the
miracle that is Easter.

NOTE from Huntsville First UMC:  JOIN US TODAY at
Big Spring Park for a churchwide Easter Egg Hunt.  Please also welcome the
families of our mission partners at Huntsville Learning Center, Second Mile
Development, and Children First.