NOT JUST ANOTHER SATURDAY

For most of us Saturdays are a day off from work. It’s a day to tackle our to-do list, shop, relax, play, and, of course, get a little extra sleep. If you’re committed to gathering with the Church on Sundays, Saturdays are your only “free” day of the week where you can do what you want. It’s a rare day when any of us can totally do what we want for a full day, but I digress. For the most part, Saturdays are good days and days we look forward to all week long.

2000 years ago the day between the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus Christ was not just another Saturday. The Bible doesn’t provide us with too many details as to what transpired on Saturday, but 1 Peter 3:18-20 gives us a glimpse:  “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19 through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water…” (NIV) Following his death on the cross Jesus had work to do. He needed to go preach the good news to those who lived “in the days of Noah” and had died in the great flood. Since their watery death, they were held in “prison”, waiting for Christ to bring good news. This may have been what the Prophet Isaiah referred to in Chapter 61: “…to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.” (NIV)

Throughout church history people have speculated on the Saturday between Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday. Some contend Jesus spent time in hell. The song by Carmen, Champion, describes a fight, like a heavyweight bout, between Satan and Jesus. It’s hard to be definite when the Bible provides few details. What we do know from 1 Peter 3 is Jesus preached the first message following his crucifixion to prisoners. He brought a message of good news, healing, favor and justice (Isaiah 61). 

The message of Jesus is still bringing freedom to spiritual prisoners today. As churches throughout the world prepare to celebrate the resurrection this weekend join me in praying that people by the millions will find freedom in Christ and will choose to make him their Savior and Lord. As Jesus declared to the prisoners on Saturday, "You can be free!"