Avondale Pattillo UMC

From Lent to Easter

Holy Saturday

Holy Saturday is the day the body of Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man, rested in the tomb.  Some Christians fast both Friday and Saturday of Holy Week.

Joseph of Arimathea, a Sanhedrin member who had not agreed to Jesus' execution, got permission from Pontius Pilate to remove Jesus on Friday (before the Sabbath).  Jewish law required burial within 24 hours of death. 

Nicodemus, another Sanhedrin member who was against Jesus' crucifixion, brought seventy-five pounds of myrrh and aloes -- the amount used for royal burials.  After these had been applied to Jesus'  body and it had been wrapped in strips of linen, it  was placed in the tomb and a heavy stone rolled in front of the entrance.

The burial place was a private garden, probably Joseph's own  tomb carved out of the rock. A private garden let the women visit the tomb without worrying about public exposure, especially during the day.

The Sanhedrin, still concerned about the impact of Jesus, requested that Pilate place a guard at the tomb.

Recipes

• Easter Cookie Story (made the night before Easter)
• Easter story biscuits (made Saturday night before Easter)

Avondale Pattillo UMC
3260 Covington Hwy., Decatur, GA 30032
404-294-4063

This page was last edited April 6, 2007 0:56 AM

Bible readings

• Matthew 2:11
• Matthew 27:57-61
• Mark 15:42-47
• Luke 23:50-56
• John 19:38-42

References

• Holy Saturday
• Sanhedrin
• Jewish Sanhedrin
• Joseph of Arimathea
• Joseph of Arimathea - legend, biblical
• Nicodemus
• "Tomb of Jesus" debunked