Good Friday has a name. Easter Sunday has a name. Then, there’s the day in between, the day no one likes to consider. Perhaps we could call it, “Silent Saturday.” It was the day that scripture hardly mentions, the day that Heaven seemed to be silent.

We, in our post-Easter paradigm are so quick to move from Good Friday to Easter, that we often ignore the day that, to us, represents the ultimate in despair. Perhaps because we’re not good with hopelessness, or the seeming silence of God. We’re not good with sorrow, or the unknown. And surely, the disciples and early followers of Christ were deep in both on that day.

What do we know about Silent Saturday? I would venture to say (guess) that we know that Jesus’ followers were in fear and despair, and perhaps, in hiding, fearful that they would meet the same fate as their Lord.

But what does scripture tell us? The Gospels are fairly silent on the matter, but in 1 Peter 3, we read: “For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also He went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey…” (1 Peter 3:18-20a).

For Christian’s who pose the question, “How were/are people who lived before Christ was resurrected, saved?” Perhaps these verses hold the key. Perhaps “Silent Saturday” was a larger part of the salvation (Easter) event than any of us realize!

“For this is the reason the Gospel was proclaimed even to the dead, so that, although they had been judged in the flesh as everyone is judged, they might live in the spirit as God does” (1 Peter 4:6).

And as we consider “Silent Saturday,” what is the lesson to be learned? That when God seems silent, and far-removed, perhaps He is accomplishing His greatest work of all!” Perhaps, “Silent Saturday” should be called, “Salvation Saturday!”

Rev. Kim W. Chafee, 2025