By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. (Isa 53:8 NIV)

Death is overcome and life has been gained. The Lord has come to peace and his soul is amongst the blessed saints in paradise. However holy Scripture does not say anything about such joyous celebrations and exultations after the triumphant victory of Christ. He promised a blessed reunion in paradise to the robber on the cross. So it should not be doubted that Christ fulfilled this promise precisely. If however the Lord introduced that forgiven robber there, there can’t be any doubt that the rejoicing would have been overwhelming in the heavens on his arrival. Just imagine the jubilation and heavenly delight after all the sorrow, suffering and dying – yes after our Lord’s glorious harrowing of hell!

While the body is resting in the grave belonging to Joseph of Arimathia and waiting for the resurrection on the third day we too are pausing and taking a big breath. This is a wonderful peace the Lord has won for us! Sin is forgiven, death is overcome and the devil is finally bound and rendered harmless. That’s a real Sabbath’s rest for Christ’s own – the Christian Church – and who would have thought that after those dark hours starting in Gethsemane?  Thanks be to the triune God now and forever. Amen.

So rest–my Rest! Thou ever blest! Thy grave with sinners making, By Thy precious death, from sin My dead soul awaking! Here hast Thou lain, After much pain, Life of my life, reposing! Round Thee now a rock-hewn grave, Rock of Ages, closing. Breath of all breath! I know from death Thou wilt my soul awaken! Wherefore should I dread the grave, Or my faith be shaken? To me the tomb Is but a room, Where I lie down with Jesus! Who by death hath conquered death, Safely there receives us! The body dies and lies In dust, until victorious From the grave, it shall arise Beautiful and glorious! Meantime I will, My Jesus, still Deep in my bosom lay Thee, Musing on Thy death; in death Be with me, I pray Thee! (Salomon Frank 1685 translated by Richard Massi)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Saturday after Good Friday (Karsamstag). It is found on Pg. 158 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.