The Burial of Jesus

Yesterday we read about the death of Jesus and how He shouted from the cross “It is finished”. In the original language it is one word – tetelestai. It means that the job is finish or the debt had been paid for. Completed! Done! Finished. Christ’s mission to redeem us is completed.

Most, if not all, did not understand this. Luke tells us in 23:48, “And when all the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw what had happened, they went home in deep sorrow. But Jesus' friends, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching” (Luke 23:48-49 NLT). What was going on in their minds? What were they thinking?

We have very little information as to what happen from the cross to early Sunday morning. However, we are told about the burial of Jesus. Luke says, 

“Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council, but he had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other religious leaders. He was from the town of Arimathea in Judea, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. Then he took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock. This was done late on Friday afternoon, the day of preparation, as the Sabbath was about to begin. As His body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where His body was placed. Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint His body. But by the time they were finished the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law” (Luke 23:50-56 NLT).

Matthew added another incident that happened on the Saturday: 

“The next day, on the Sabbath, the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. They told him, "Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while He was still alive: 'After three days I will rise from the dead.' So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent His disciples from coming and stealing His body and then telling everyone He was raised from the dead! If that happens, we'll be worse off than we were at first." Pilate replied, "Take guards and secure it the best you can." So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it” (Matthew 27:62-66 NLT).

On the Saturday, it appears that the guards were posted at the tomb with the body of Jesus lying inside.  For the disciples, followers and family of Jesus – it appears that they went back to their homes. Most likely they were still in shock. Grief was written all over their faces. Some of them would have recalled Jesus saying that He would be raised back to life. But Jesus was still in the tomb – dead. Saturday would have been a hard day. I think that they would have felt defeated.

Interestingly Peter makes a rather quick reference that has caused much debate of what perhaps Jesus did between his death and resurrection. 1 Peter 3:19 says, “So He went and preached to the spirits in prison” (1 Peter 3:19 NLT). I feel like saying “Peter, give us more detail”. Obviously the meaning of preaching "to the spirits in prison" is not completely clear, and commentators have explained it in different ways. The traditional interpretation is that between his death and resurrection, Christ announced salvation to God's faithful followers who had been waiting for their salvation during the whole Old Testament era.

The fact is, this whole period of time between Christ’s death and resurrection is rather silent. We have made a number of assumptions of what could have been and felt.

It isn’t unusual that we experience periods of silence – you know, those times when you are grieving or going through a hard time or seeking direction or prayers don’t seem to be answered. It is in these times that God seems to be silent. Like Easter Saturday where there was silence, God was actually up to something. He was about to do something so new and so full of hope and life.

When you do experience a period of silence, may you know the peace of God that He is up to something that in time will be revealed to you. God promises in Hebrews 13:5, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5 NIV). Today, ask God to grant you His peace that, if you are going through a challenging experience, you may know that He is actually up to something (Romans 8:28).