Lent 2016, Day 46: March 26 (Luke 23:44-56)

It is Saturday, the Sabbath (and a High Sabbath at that because it is Passover). All is silent. The Temple is closed, the streets deserted. By Jewish law, no work and no business are conducted. Luke is equally silent, and we can only speculate on what, if anything, is happening behind all these closed doors.

The City is painfully quiet after yesterday’s crucifixion (a triple feature), almost hung over. Like the city streets and squares, Golgotha is still and empty, save for the dogs that search for day-old blood.

Where are the disciples? Most likely, they have gathered again at John Mark’s family home (his mother’s house) where they last ate. Peter is here, but in seclusion. Rhoda cannot get him to eat anything. The other 10 are here, and the house is spacious enough to accommodate all of the women, too.

The women.

As much as the disciples must be grieving, the women have it much worse. For the past three and a half years (and especially the past 40-plus days), they have been social misfits, pariahs for the love of Jesus. They have been cut off from family, community and synagogue all for the love they bear the Rabbi, their Master. And now He lies cold in the tomb. His death is very fresh, but it is only human for them to already start wondering: where do we go from here? How will we survive?

It does make you wonder: what did they expect would happen here in Jerusalem? Jesus entered the city with crowds calling “Hosanna!” When He left the city to be crucified, the crowds mocked Him. It seems a disconnect, and yet it is not. “Hosanna” means “I beg you to save me!” and Jesus did just that. 

The women are the first to ask: now that we are saved, how are we to live? This is the question each of us must answer for ourselves.

In the midst of yesterday’s events, one good man stood up and dissented. It didn’t make much of a difference, they killed Jesus anyway, but Joseph of Arimathea is remembered today because he stood up and said, “No.” 

It is an important lesson in dissent; evil only prevails for a short time, therefore it is essential for good men to stand up and say, “No!” whatever the cost.

Joined by Nicodemus, Joseph takes the body of Christ and prepares it for burial. Because the Sabbath is fast approaching (the Sun is setting), they place Jesus in Joseph’s new tomb until they have time to make more complete arrangements. Just as Joseph’s dissent had no impact, his burial preparations won’t make any difference either. Sunday is coming. For now, that means nothing. Tomorrow, however, it will mean everything to Joseph and all the rest of us.