Holy Saturday, the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, carries profound meaning for Christians around the world. It’s a day marked by stillness and reflection, a moment of waiting between the sorrow of Jesus’ death and the joy of His resurrection.
The Bible offers many verses that help believers meditate on this day and its significance, providing comfort and spiritual insight.
In this blog post, we will explore 35 Bible verses that speak directly to the heart of Holy Saturday, each offering a unique perspective on waiting, hope, and the anticipation of Easter.
These verses can provide inspiration and strength as we reflect on the meaning of this sacred day.
1. Matthew 27:57-60
“As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.”
Explanation: This passage describes the burial of Jesus, an essential moment of Holy Saturday. Joseph of Arimathea, a secret follower of Jesus, steps forward to give Jesus a proper burial, which marks the finality of Jesus’ earthly life before His resurrection.
2. Mark 15:40-47
“Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome. In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.”
Explanation: Mark’s account highlights the presence of the faithful women who watched Jesus’ burial. Their sorrow and faithfulness echo the quiet yet significant moments of Holy Saturday, awaiting the resurrection in silence and devotion.
3. Luke 23:50-56
“Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God.”
Explanation: Joseph’s actions emphasize the anticipation of the kingdom of God, a theme central to Holy Saturday. His quiet waiting and preparation of Jesus’ tomb symbolize the faith that sustains us while we wait for God’s promises to unfold.
4. John 19:38-42
“Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away.”
Explanation: John’s account emphasizes the secret discipleship of Joseph. His quiet action in taking Jesus’ body highlights the silence and mystery of Holy Saturday, as Jesus’ followers are in a moment of grief, uncertainty, and anticipation.
5. Matthew 27:62-66
“The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, “After three days I will rise again.” So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.'”
Explanation: This verse reflects the tensions of Holy Saturday, with the religious leaders trying to secure Jesus’ tomb, not realizing that His resurrection was already ordained. It’s a reminder that, even in the silence, God’s plan is unfolding.
6. Luke 24:1-3
“On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.”
Explanation: This verse marks the moment when the women discovered the empty tomb, an Easter morning revelation. It emphasizes the transition from the mourning of Holy Saturday to the joyful hope of resurrection.
7. Acts 13:29
“When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb.”
Explanation: Acts references the fulfillment of prophecy, marking the completion of Jesus’ suffering and the beginning of the awaited resurrection. This verse draws us into the hope that follows Holy Saturday’s waiting.
8. 1 Peter 3:18-20
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits.”
Explanation: This passage sheds light on the mysterious work of Christ even after His death. Holy Saturday can be seen as a time when Christ, in the spirit, brought victory even to those held in spiritual darkness.
9. Romans 6:4
“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
Explanation: This verse links the believer’s baptism to the death and resurrection of Jesus, symbolizing the transformation from death to new life, which is central to the message of Easter and the hope that begins on Holy Saturday.
10. Matthew 28:1-7
“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.”
Explanation: The earthquake and angel signify the power of resurrection that would break the silence of Holy Saturday. It marks the beginning of God’s miraculous intervention, signaling the hope and joy of Easter.
11. Isaiah 53:3-5
“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.”
Explanation: This prophecy of Jesus’ suffering underscores the agony He endured for humanity. Holy Saturday represents a moment of mourning over this suffering, but also the anticipation of the triumph that follows.
12. Luke 23:44-46
“It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last.”
Explanation: The darkness over the land and the tearing of the temple curtain signify the immense spiritual shift that took place through Jesus’ death. This sets the stage for the hope of resurrection to come.
13. John 20:11-18
“Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.”
Explanation: Mary’s sorrow at the tomb speaks to the grief felt on Holy Saturday, but her encounter with the angels foreshadows the joy of the resurrection. The sorrow will soon turn to joy, marking the hope of Easter.
14. 1 Corinthians 15:20-22
“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”
Explanation: These verses offer the theological foundation for resurrection. Holy Saturday is a reminder that Jesus’ death and resurrection pave the way for believers to have eternal life.
15. Mark 16:1-3
“When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, ‘Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?'”
Explanation: The women’s journey to the tomb highlights the uncertainty they felt as they approached the resting place of Jesus. Their faithful action is a symbol of the hope that Christians hold, even when they face uncertainty.
16. John 19:41-42
“At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.”
Explanation: Jesus’ burial in a new tomb is significant, symbolizing both the purity of His sacrifice and the new beginning that would come with His resurrection. Holy Saturday is a moment of quiet reflection before the burst of life that is Easter.
17. Hebrews 9:27-28
“Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”
Explanation: This verse connects Jesus’ first coming and death to His promise of return. Holy Saturday invites Christians to reflect on the salvation secured through Christ and the hope of His return.
18. Psalm 30:5
“For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”
Explanation: This verse speaks to the temporary nature of suffering and the eventual joy that follows. It serves as a beautiful reminder that Holy Saturday’s grief will turn to the joy of Easter.
19. Matthew 12:40
“For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
Explanation: Jesus’ reference to Jonah emphasizes the significance of the three days of waiting between His death and resurrection. Holy Saturday is that moment of waiting, pregnant with anticipation for the resurrection.
20. Romans 8:11
“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”
Explanation: This verse speaks to the power of the Holy Spirit, who not only raised Jesus from the dead but also works in believers, giving them new life. It offers hope for resurrection in our own lives.
21. Matthew 27:59-60
“Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.”
Explanation: This verse emphasizes the finality of Jesus’ death, and yet it sets the stage for His glorious return to life. The sealed tomb is a temporary condition, just as the sorrow of Holy Saturday is fleeting.
22. Psalm 16:10
“Because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.”
Explanation: This verse, often interpreted as prophetic of Jesus’ resurrection, promises that death will not have the final word. It speaks directly to the hope of Easter that begins to emerge on Holy Saturday.
23. John 11:25-26
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?'”
Explanation: Jesus’ words in this passage assure believers that death is not the end. They provide great comfort, especially on Holy Saturday, as we reflect on the reality of life through Christ.
24. Matthew 27:64
“So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”
Explanation: The religious leaders’ attempts to secure the tomb highlight their fear of Jesus’ words about resurrection. This shows that even in death, God’s plan cannot be thwarted.
25. Mark 15:46
“So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.”
Explanation: Joseph’s care for Jesus’ body shows his reverence and love. His actions on Holy Saturday reflect the deep mourning and respect for Jesus, knowing that His mission was not over.
26. Revelation 1:18
“I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
Explanation: Revelation speaks of Christ’s victory over death, foreshadowing His resurrection and the ultimate triumph that will come. It is a powerful reminder that even on Holy Saturday, victory is certain.
27. Isaiah 53:9
“He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.”
Explanation: This prophecy illustrates the unjust suffering of Jesus, who was buried in a rich man’s tomb despite being sinless. It highlights the depth of His sacrifice, which will soon be vindicated through the resurrection.
28. Matthew 28:6
“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.”
Explanation: This statement by the angel encapsulates the hope of Easter. It reminds us that Jesus’ promise of resurrection is true, and Holy Saturday is a day of waiting for the fulfillment of that promise.
29. Luke 24:46-47
“He told them, ‘This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.'”
Explanation: Jesus’ words to His disciples in Luke point to the significance of His resurrection. Holy Saturday marks the waiting for the fulfillment of this promise.
30. Romans 5:8
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Explanation: This verse captures the essence of the Easter story—the sacrificial love of Jesus. Even though Holy Saturday is a day of mourning, we know that Jesus’ death was the ultimate act of love.
31. Philippians 2:8
“And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”
Explanation: This verse reflects on Jesus’ obedience, even in the face of death. Holy Saturday is a day of reflection on the obedience that led to His sacrifice and resurrection.
32. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Explanation: These verses celebrate Christ’s victory over death. Holy Saturday may feel like a time of waiting, but Easter reminds us that death is not the end.
33. Hebrews 2:14-15
“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”
Explanation: Jesus’ death broke the power of death and freed believers from its fear. Holy Saturday marks the moment before this victory is fully realized.
34. 1 Peter 1:3
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
Explanation: This verse expresses the living hope that arises from Jesus’ resurrection. It reminds us that Easter transforms our grief into hope.
35. Revelation 22:5
“There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.”
Explanation: The ultimate victory over darkness is promised in Revelation, where God’s light will reign eternally. This is the hope that Holy Saturday leads to—the anticipation of eternal light through the resurrection.
Conclusion
As we reflect on these 35 Bible verses about Holy Saturday, we are reminded of the waiting, the silence, and the deep meaning of this sacred day. It’s a time for mourning, yes, but also for hope, as we anticipate the joy of resurrection.
May these verses inspire you to embrace the stillness of Holy Saturday, knowing that Easter is just ahead.
What about you? Do you have a favorite Bible verse or a thought to share about Holy Saturday? Leave your comments below and let’s continue to reflect together.