Matthew 27:57-66 The Voice
57At evening time, a rich man from Arimathea arrived. His name was Joseph, and he had become a disciple of Jesus. 58He went to Pilate and asked to be given Jesus body; Pilate assented and ordered his servants to turn Jesus body over to Joseph. 59So Joseph took the body, wrapped Jesus in a clean sheath of white linen, 60and laid Jesus in his own new tomb, which he had carved from a rock. Then he rolled a great stone in front of the tombs opening, and he went away. 61Mary Magdalene was there, and so was the other Mary. They sat across from the tomb, watching, remembering.
62The next day, which is the day after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went together to Pilate. 63They reminded him that when Jesus was alive He had claimed that He would be raised from the dead after three days.
Chief Priests and Pharisees: 64So please order someone to secure the tomb for at least three days. Otherwise His disciples might sneak in and steal His body away, and then claim that He has been raised from the dead. If that happens, then we would have been better off just leaving Him alive.
Pilate: 65You have a guard. Go and secure the grave.
66So they went to the tomb, sealed the stone in its mouth, and left the guard to keep watch.
Today, yesterday's raw emotional colors are grayed.
Today we wait.
Today we reflect on the weighty reality of Jesus' death.
Today we wait.
Today we embrace the mystery of death just beyond the stone we see sealing the tomb.
Today we wait.
Today we wonder about what we can't see or hear inside the tomb and we make room for not knowing and become friends with evidenceless hope.
Today we wait.
For reflection...
Verse 61 in our passage today describe the Marys both watching and remembering. Imagine yourself at the tomb waiting and watching. What are you hoping to see? Why? What do you hope is going on behind the stone seal? What are you waiting for?
As you wait today, and recall everything Jesus has been for you in your life, what do you remember?
Image by Jean-Jacques Henner, Jesus at the Tomb
The emotional colors, the weighty reality, the mystery of death, and wonder? What must the Mary’s have been experiencing as, “They sat across from the tomb, watching, remembering?”
With all they had seen Jesus do and say, did they think, “It’s all over now because the miracle-working is gone,” or, “I wonder what will happen next, for none of what has happened could we have predicted?” What a mystery…
Kirk, I’m drawn to the mystery in the Sacred Silence of Holy Saturday more and more each year. This day is no mere “flyover” day on the way to better destinations. The Marys and the disciples simply didn’t have a better destination in mind like we do. But, when we experience that hopelessness, real hope has a chance.Thanks for your comment and reminding me of this mystery!