Easter Sabbath

This week's study led to a realization of when Sabbath worship changed from Saturdays to Sundays. The seventh day, Saturday, has been the holy and sacred day when the Saints from Adam to Christ worshiped God. All this changed after Christ was resurrected.

Christ died late Friday afternoon, His body lay in the tomb Friday night and Saturday. Sometime Sunday morning He was resurrected. Imagine, for all the saints in the spirit world worshiping God on their sabbath day, Christ comes to them on that day and spends the entire day with them.

We have been instructed to worship God on Sundays ever since that day (Acts 20:7). I suppose this could mean the return of Christ will happen on a Sunday. 

The constant teaching of Christ's return to earth by the apostles that lived with Christ to our apostles today is that He comes quickly. 

This leads me to the ordinance that makes the sabbath day holy.

      D&C 84

Can the sacrament do such a thing? Can it reveal God and make manifest His glory?

I am reminded of the two men on the road to Emmaus. 

The road to Emmaus - Bible Videos

Christ walked with them and talked with them and taught them the words of the prophets. It wasn't until Christ blessed and broke bread that his identity was revealed. I personally have found this too symbolic of when He broke bread at the last supper and instituted His sacrament ordinance. 

Luke 24

Interesting though that the sacrament ordinance, when looked upon from outside the symbolism, is literally a funeral service where people eat the body and blood of a dead person. That's about as morbid a thought as can be. The symbolism is grand and extremely intimate. 

The latter day saints dress their best and attend a service where already prepared upon an alter is the body of Christ. We symbolically enter the tomb and it is symbolically Saturday. His body is lifeless and covered in linen. While we worship God for his sacrifice, we watch the priesthood bearers break up his body. It is broken under God's instruction and enough is made to allow every Saint the opportunity to partake. 

Interesting word,  'partake'. To partake in something is more than just to eat it. It is to be accomplice and aid in the cause. The cause of Christ's work, or his death? I feel it's both. He died for me and he lives for me. And for you. So we eat the bread to remember him, keep his commandments, and take upon ourselves his name. The promise back is that a God, the Holy Ghost, will be with us to aid us in this covenant. Specifically,  the calling of the holy ghost is to testify of the Father and the Son. He is a revealer. Hence,  the sacrament is very much an ordinance that will reveal the power of godliness for anyone who is faithful. 

When I first saw our Sundays as a funeral service only a couple years ago I revolted. Don't we worship the living God? Why is he dead? But I was calmed in that moment and I understood that this symbolic Saturday that Christ is in the tomb is only a short time. He will rise by the next day, meaning Christ comes quickly!