Note: These last forty days of Lenten Devotions end with this Holy Saturday post. I trust these devotionals have been fruitful and you have gained some insight into the Lenten journey. Thanks for the kind notes throughout. Seeing those brief meditations used in early morning Book and Bible studies and for personal devotions was a delight.
On this Saturday, the Church calls this day "Blessed Sabbath" or, more commonly, "Holy Saturday." On this day, our Lord reposed (rested) from his accomplishments. Many throughout history also believe that Holy Saturday is a fulfillment of Moses’ words:
God blessed the seventh day. This is the day of rest, on which God rested from all His works . . .(Gen. 2:2)
The Church links this day with the creation account. On day seven, Yahweh rested and enjoyed the fruit of his creation. Jesus Christ also rested in the rest given to him by the Father and enjoyed the fruits of the New Creation he began to establish and brought to light on the next day.
Holy Saturday is a day of rest for God’s people—a foretaste of the true rest that comes in the Risen Christ. The calmness of Holy Saturday makes room for the explosion of Easter Sunday. On this day, we remember that the darkness of the grave and the rest of the Son were only temporary. When a New Creation bursts into the scene, the risen Lord of glory cannot contain his joy, so he gives it to us.
Notations
What is a Christian Worldview?
Beginning next week, I will post on Tuesdays for the general public and Fridays for paid subscribers. Paid subscribers will have access to sections of manuscript drafts of lectures, books, and essays, book and lecture notation, and an updated schedule for my traveling and writing projects. The monthly subscription is now $5, and the annual subscription is $40—a much better deal!
John Frame notes that “the essence of the covenant is that God is our God and we are his people” (ST, 30). History is a narrative of mutual possessing and presenc-ing.
Jeannine Hanger argues that the sense of touch enables us to understand the foot-washing ceremony of John 13. Touch is foundational and inherently compassionate, and the neglect of touch indicates that a human being has no worth. It substantiates existence and says, “You are here to me.” Jesus affirms the disciples by touching their feet, the human body's most neglected and overlooked feature. Our Lord is showing the worth of the disciples as they move to the final days.
Christian Nationalism
I enjoyed this discussion on Christian Nationalism between Stephen Wolfe and Michael Bird, whom I have interacted with personally or via Zoom and consider distant acquaintances. For all the enthusiasm contra Christian Nationalism, Stephen is quite a mild-mannered man who behaves well in public discussions. I wish his opponents would honor that. Michael Bird was the exception. He carried himself quite well and with his inimitable humor.
Bird engaged in the discussion as one who read Stephen’s book and was able to bring about various valid critiques. Wolfe is more content on the theoretical side of things without offering much political specificity. We need thinkers of that caliber on the Christian front. He could also elaborate a bit more on his remarks on the nature of ethnicity. He asserts that he made assumptions about the use of the language in the book. What he meant by ethnicity was culture in its modern definition. He does leave room for prudential separation of races based on sociological concerns. He uses New York City as an example of where races naturally tend towards themselves. He sees a naturalness to these tendencies.
Bird agreed that Anabaptism is a failed project and argued for Christian politicians but not a Christian nation. Christians in politics would leave room for divergent religious expressions and would not favor one group.
What I found most amusing was Bird’s approval of compulsory voting in Australia, where there is a 98% turnout on election day. And Stephen, with his nationalism, expressed skepticism about the process.
The conversation was civil and set the stage for future dialogues.