My Special Easter Basket - The Tomb

Saturday

The Tomb

(a smooth flat stone)

Imagine, if you can, the heartbreak of all of Jesus’ family, friends and followers. Many of them had seen Jesus brutally beaten and nailed to a cross. They saw His dead body taken down, wrapped in burial clothes and placed in a tomb belonging to Joseph of Arimathea. When they heard Jesus proclaim, “It is finished,” they had to conclude that all of the hopes they had in Jesus being the promised Messiah were finished as well. Their dreams had been crucified with Jesus.

Read Mark 15:42-47

Joseph of Arimathea was a respected and wealthy member of the Jewish council. Perhaps he was present during the first trial when Jesus was questioned and sentenced to death by the high priest. It was important to Joseph to get Jesus’ body buried before the Sabbath began at sundown, and so he offered not only his prepared tomb, but also wrapped Jesus’ body in clean burial clothes. Lastly, Joseph had a large stone rolled in front of the tomb’s entrance and made it just in time for the beginning of Sabbath. For all of the next day, Joseph and all who knew and loved Jesus, would have to rest and wait.

Blessings,

Gay B Brown