Silent Saturday Holy Week Devotional
- Karen O'Reilly
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
This Silent Saturday devotional is an excerpt from our Redeemed By The Cross Bible study, available now on Amazon and in our Digital/Printable Bible Study Shop.
As we reflect on Holy Saturday—(also known as Silent Saturday of Holy Week) the quiet day between the cross and the resurrection—we step into a moment filled with uncertainty, grief, and waiting. It was a day of silence, when heaven seemed quiet and hope felt distant. And yet, in that silence, God was still at work. Let’s explore what Scripture says about this sacred pause—and how it speaks to the waiting seasons in our own lives.
Silent Saturday Holy Week Devotional
Holy Saturday—a day of silence, waiting, and uncertainty.
Jesus' body lay in the tomb, wrapped in linen and sealed behind a heavy stone.
The disciples were scattered, grieving, and afraid—not yet understanding what was to come.
The religious leaders, still fearful, convinced Pilate to secure the tomb with guards to prevent any claims of resurrection.
To the world, it seemed as if all hope was lost. But God was not finished.
Read Matthew 27:62-66:
The Guard at the Tomb
62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 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.”
65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.
Silent Saturday: The Disciples' Longest Day
Imagine the confusion, grief, and fear of Jesus’ followers:
Peter: Still overwhelmed by the guilt of his denial.
John: The only disciple at the cross—now waiting in sorrow.
Mary Magdalene & the women: Preparing to anoint Jesus’ body, uncertain of what to do next.
The rest of the disciples hid, wondering if they would be next.
They did not yet understand that Jesus’ silence was not the end—but the pause before the greatest victory.
The Religious Leaders’ Fear during Silent Saturday
The chief priests and Pharisees weren’t celebrating—they were still afraid.
“Sir, we remember how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure.”
(Matthew 27:63-64)
A guard was placed at the tomb—as if human effort could stop the power of God!
A Roman seal was placed over the stone, making it officially closed.
But no amount of guards, stone, or authority could stop what was coming.
They tried to seal a tomb—but they were only sealing the evidence of Jesus’ greatest miracle.
Devotional
Holy Saturday represents waiting on God’s promises when everything seems uncertain.
Have you ever felt like God was silent?
Have you ever waited for a promise that felt impossible?
Do you feel like you’re in a season of uncertainty right now?
✨The disciples couldn’t see it, but Sunday was coming.
Lent & Easter Journey
Lent has been a journey of preparation. But today, we sit in the tension of waiting.
Just as the disciples had to hold onto Jesus’ promises, so must we in our own times of uncertainty.
Easter is coming, but today, we wait in faith.
If you are in a season of waiting, trust that God is working—even when you can’t see it.
Challenge
Lean into the waiting today.
Read Psalm 27:13-14 – Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart.
Write down a promise of God that you are holding onto.
Spend time in silent reflection, meditating on God’s faithfulness.
Prayer
Lord, today I sit in the waiting. Just as the disciples mourned and wondered what was next, I too have moments of uncertainty. But I trust that You are at work, even in the silence. Strengthen my faith as I hold onto Your promises, knowing that resurrection is coming. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Further Study
Psalm 130:5 – I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word, I hope.
Isaiah 40:31 – Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength.
Romans 8:25 – If we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Matthew 12:40 – Just as Jonah was three days in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days in the heart of the earth.
Redeemed By The Cross - Lent/Easter Devotional Study for Women
You can get the full 43-day devotional in one place by purchasing the book on Amazon or grabbing the PDF version here. It’s a beautiful way to prepare your heart and reflect deeply on the meaning of the cross and resurrection. It comes with plenty of space to journal and prayer prompts!
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Let’s walk this Holy Week together—each day bringing us prayerfully closer to the cross... and to the empty tomb.
Tomorrow, we will consider the events of Day 8 - He Is Risen.
Holy Week Devotionals:
Day 1 – Palm Sunday - The King Has Come!
Day 2 – Monday - Jesus Weeps For Jerusalem.
Day 4 – Wednesday - The Authority of Jesus.
Day 5 – Maundy Thursday - The Last Supper & Gethsemane.
Day 6 – Good Friday - Jesus’ Trial and Crucifixion.
Day 7 – Holy Saturday - The Silence of Saturday.
Day 8 – Resurrection Sunday - He Is Risen!
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Blessings,
Karen xo.
