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PASSION WEEK: BURIAL SATURDAY
The Burial of Jesus
(John 19:38-42)
38 After this Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus (but secretly, because he feared the Jewish authorities), asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, so he went and took away the body. 39 Nicodemus, who had come to Jesus earlier at night, went with Joseph too, carrying a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing seventy-five pounds. 40 So they took Jesus’ body and wrapped it, with the aromatic spices, in strips of linen cloth according to Jewish burial customs. 41 Now at the place where Jesus was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden was a new tomb where no one had yet been buried. 42 So because it was the Jewish day of preparation and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
The Synoptic Gospels all call attention to the women who were present at the cross, and then followed those who buried Jesus to note the place where the body of Jesus was laid to rest (Matthew 27:61; Mark 15:47; Luke 23:54-56). It was their intention to come back after the Sabbath and do a more thorough job of preparing the Lord’s body for burial.
As the sun rose on Saturday, sadness filled the hearts of Jesus’ disciples, family and friends. None of them understood that the death of Jesus, the most undeserved death imaginable, would yield a divine return. When Jesus drew His last breath, He disarmed the powers of darkness and triumphed over all authorities marshaled against the reign of God (Col. 2:14-15).
Let God fill your mind with a knowledge that even death could not contain Jesus. God’s light has triumphed over darkness.
Matthew 27:62-64 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
Inspirational Lifestyles: It’s Passion Week and Today Is Burial Saturday was originally published on praisedc.com
