Matthew 27:55-61
New International
Version 1984 (NIV1984)
55 Many women were there,
watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his
needs. 56 Among
them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of
Zebedee’s sons.
57 As evening approached,
there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a
disciple of Jesus. 58 Going
to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to
him. 59 Joseph
took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had
cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb
and went away. 61 Mary
Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
John 19:25
New
International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary
the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
I found
it rather interesting in this passage that the woman, who had followed Jesus,
stood close to Him while the eleven disciples seemed to have disappeared. It doesn’t really say what they were doing
but they were certainly not in the crowd.
Possibly they were planning their next move or just hiding because they
didn’t want to be the next ones on the cross.
The woman, however, stayed close beside Jesus while He was on the cross
and when He was placed in the tomb.
There
was one man that came to claim Jesus body. He was a rich man, one who cared about
Jesus. He didn’t deny Him but rather claimed
Him, took His body and wrapped it, as was the custom, with clean linen, and
placed it in His own tomb. Do you think
he knew that this tomb was merely a loan and that Jesus would soon not need it
anymore? I had not ever really thought
much about that but this was a new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. It was intended for his own use. I would
imagine it was not an easy task to cut out a tomb. He was either very generous to give Jesus the
tomb or he knew that it would only be used for a few days or a little of both.
Notice
again who was at the tomb, the women.
Even in His death they did not leave Him but watched and knew where the
tomb was, where Jesus lay. They would be
back as soon as the Passover was complete.
Place
yourself in this story. Where are
you? Are you one that goes off and plans
your next move? Or hides because you are
afraid? Are you one that sticks by Jesus
no matter what the cost? Maybe you are
the one that gives Him your tomb because you know He has promised you eternal
life? Are you the one who claims Jesus
body? The one who takes the time wrap
Him in clean linen?
As you
seek Him, may you stick close to Him.
Give Him your possessions, give Him your love, let Him know how thankful
you are to have Him in your life.
Seeking
Him with all my heart,
Sheila
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