Each of the Gospels speak one or two sentences about what happened after Jesus' death on Friday afternoon before early Sunday morning.
The first thing that happened was the body of Jesus was taken by two followers of Jesus - interestingly, neither of which was called a disciple. These two were probably well enough connected that they could get Pilate's permission to take Jesus' body and prepare it for burial.
38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away.
39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.
40 Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.
41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid.
42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
While Jesus' followers grieved, and probably felt at a loss as to what to do; the Jewish authorities and Romans made a decision to make sure no one could steal his body.
Matthew 27:62-66 (NIV)
62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate.
63 "Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.'
64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first."
65 "Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how."
66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.
Lastly, a final look by Mary Magdalene, Clopas and Mary, Jesus' mother as Jesus was entombed.
Luke 23:55-56 (NIV)
55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it.
56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
What I love is the contrasts between actions.
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were admirers who wanted to honor Jesus in what they did.
The Roman officials and Jewish leaders were driven by both fear and power.
The women were those who loved Jesus.
I love the last line - "they rested..."
Between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, we rest...It's a day of realizing that all has been done by Jesus, and there is nothing more for us to do.
In Jesus, we rest!
Peace
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