The Last Sabbath is Laid to Rest

They took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb where no one had ever been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, as the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. John 19:40-42 (RSVCE)

In one of the interesting and varied occupations of my life, I served for a time as a custodian at a conservative synagogue in a suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. That position included duties as a shabbos goy from sundown on Fridays, to sundown on Saturdays.

There are certain types of work, known as melakha, which cannot, except in life or death emergencies, be done by observant Jews on the Sabbath. As a non-Jew, I was permitted to perform these tasks in service of the synagogue, and in personal service to the rabbi and his family.

Before the beginning of the Friday evening service, I would light the candles in the synagogue sanctuary, and turn on all of the necessary lights throughout the building, as well as attending to the interior climate controls, sound system, and anything else that depended upon the flow of electricity, or the spark of flame.

Because "God rested from His work of creation" on the 7th day, observant Jews rest especially from any work that involves creative energy - or creates a spark.

Following the services, I would put away whatever had been used, and set all of the lighting, climate controls, sound system, and other electrical controls to their proper settings for the closing of the facility.

Then, I would walk the short distance to the Rabbi's home, and knock (rather than ring the bell) at his front door.  After exchanging the greeting "Shabbat Shalom" (Sabbath Peace), I would accompany the Rabbi through his home, turning on or off such lights and appliances as required attention for the overnight hours.  On my way out, I would set the alarm, using the panel near his front door, making sure that it was set to disarm at the appointed time the next morning.

I would arrive again at the synagogue on Saturday morning, and again set up everything needed for their services, and attend to any candles, lights, sound systems, etc, as I've mentioned previously.

In the late afternoon on Saturday, I would again set up everything for the service which would close the observance of the Sabbath.  Once sundown arrived, my service as a shabbos goy came to an end, I returned to my regular duties as a custodian.

The details of my days as a shabbos goy returned to me today, Holy Saturday, as I was contemplating the Lord resting in the sleep of death in his borrowed tomb.

Though the world knew it not, the old Sabbath itself was having its last observance. The old Sabbath, with its absence of the creative spark of life, was lying in the tomb with Jesus, as He observed it for the last time.

Jesus would soon, with his glorious resurrection, forever change the Sabbath.  The new Sabbath would be marked by a mighty release of creative energy, the likes of which had not been seen or known since God first said "Let there be Light!"

The new Sabbath would begin with the kindling of a light so bright and powerful, that the stone use to seal the tomb would be rolled away, and the guards watching the tomb would cover their eyes, and fall to the ground as if dead.

The new Sabbath would be forever marked by the lighting of candles, the blaring of trumpets, the playing of organs, and the illumination of Church buildings. The work of the lighting of lights would now become an integral part of the celebration of the new Sabbath - from beginning to end, without limitation or prohibition.

While unnecessary work remains prohibited in the observance of the new Sabbath -- a point we do well to remember -- the signs and symbols of new life are the very hallmark of our Sunday celebration.

So, tonight, when we witness the lighting of the New Fire, let us remember that we are a New People -- called to New Life -- and called to be, and to kindle, the Light of Christ, the Light of the New Sabbath, wherever we are, and wherever we go.