Lent Day 40–Holy Saturday

Our journey through Lent is completed today. We began in the desert of preparation, hungering and thirsting for righteousness. We saw ourselves as sinners, pilgrims desiring to walk upon the Way of Holiness. We set ourselves apart and raised up valleys and leveled the rough and rugged places of our lives. As we walked upon the Way of Holiness, we marched with Jesus into Jerusalem where He achieved victory for us upon the Cross.

Isaiah 40:3 A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. 5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Now, the glory of the Lord will be revealed: He is risen!

How was the glory of the Lord revealed in the empty tomb?

It was evidence of Jesus’ life as an acceptable sacrifice for our sin. There’s a pattern from the Old Testament:

2 Chronicles 6:41 “Now arise, O LORD God, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. May your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, may your saints rejoice in your goodness. 42 O LORD God, do not reject your anointed one. Remember the great love promised to David your servant.” 7:1 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. 2 The priests could not enter the temple of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled it. 3 When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, “He is good; his love endures forever.”

With the tomb empty—as Jesus foretold—the sacrifice was accepted. Forgiveness of our sins was made possible, once for all. Now what is left for us is to give thanks to the Lord, saying “He is good; his love endures forever.” To kneel before our Maker in humble worship. To know that He is God in heaven and that the Risen Christ is God’s glory revealed.