2026 Lent Devotions
Holy Saturday, April 4
John 19: 31-42
31 Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the Sabbath, especially because that Sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. 32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. 35 (He who saw this has testified so that you also may continue to believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) 36 These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, “None of his bones shall be broken.” 37 And again another passage of scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.”
38 After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and removed his body. 39 Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. 40 They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. 42 And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
“… . 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs …”
The cruelty of crucifixion is well known. Because those who were dying used their legs to support their weight, thus enabling them to breath better but also extending their suffering, breaking their legs caused greater respiratory distress, thus hastening their death. However, when the soldiers arrived at Jesus, they saw that he was already dead. Hence, his legs remained intact.
On Holy Saturday, it is difficult if not impossible to imagine the kind of death Jesus suffered. Broken legs or not, the difficulty breathing added to the wounds from his flogging and his physical abuse by the guards made Jesus last hours horrendously agonizing. He died in severe pain. And he did it all for us.
That’s why Holy Saturday is a solemn day. During it, we are called to contemplate what Jesus suffered on our behalf. How he died on the cross. Taking the time this day to reflect upon his gift of love for us is truly a meditative task. So we hope that, rather than just treat this day as any other Saturday, you’ll stop and remember what Jesus did….for you.
Prayer: Ah, Holy Jesus. Your suffering and death we for me. Amen.