◄ What Does Luke 24:2 Mean? ►

To watch the Son of God suffer so cruelly on the Cross, must have broken the heart of so many people who loved this holy Lamb of God Who had come to seek and to save that which was lost.

We are told in Mark, that Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council who was also awaiting the kingdom of God, boldly went to Pilate and requested the body of Jesus, which he wrapped in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb. He had been a secret disciple of Christ for some time – but was now ready and willing to declare in Whom he had believed.

Joseph was a wealthy man whose tomb had been hewn out of the bed-rock, as prophesied by Isaiah. It was into this tomb that the body of Christ was laid, and a large stone was rolled securely against the mouth of the sepulchre and the entrance was sealed. We also read in Luke, that certain women saw the place where the dead body of Jesus was laid, and for a time they lingered in agony before His burial chamber.

All His followers were grief stricken to see Jesus dead and buried, and these grieving women followed and watched where they laid Him. They knew exactly where the place was, for they saw the place where His body was laid. Luke explains that even the women who had come with Him out of Galilee, followed and saw the tomb, and how His body was placed.

But strict Sabbath Day regulations prevented these heart-broken, Jewish women from visiting the tomb the following day, which was a Sabbath and so from Friday, through Saturday, and into Sunday, the stone-cold body of the Lord Jesus Christ lay in silence – and alone - in the borrowed tomb of a wealthy man.

No doubt copious tears were shed and many hearts bitterly grieved, as these loyal ladies fulfilled the requirements of the Sabbath Day – for we read that they rested on the Sabbath, according to the commandment.

No doubt, they started preparing spices and perfumes to anoint His body, throughout that evening and into the night-time once the Sabbath was over. The sacred tribute, mingled with their tears, would be to anoint the body of Christ with myrrh and other spices as early as possible the following morning.

They knew exactly where to go, and we read that many women set out to visit the tomb early on that first day of the week. We can only imagine the confusion and concern that swept their aching hearts, as they asked among themselves – who will move the stone? But on arrival, they discovered that the stone was rolled away from the tomb!

As the four Gospel accounts of that glorious Resurrection morning are compared alongside each other, we discover a most beautiful harmony – as the accounts in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John blend beautifully together adding colour and depth to the greatest story every told.

And by God's grace it is true.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the Word of God and the gracious truths that it contains. Thank You for the multiple brushstrokes of complimentary colour that provide us with the most precious account of that pivotal point in history - a moment that has changed the lives and eternal futures of all who have believed on His name. May Jesus Christ be praised! In His name I pray, AMEN.