Lent@Landmark: Day 40

Jesus’ ordeal hanging on the cross began around 9am. About two hours later, he spoke to the thief on the cross beside him, and entrusted his mother to John’s care. At noon a strange nightfall took place, lasting until Jesus died, at around 3pm. The mid-afternoon daylight returned, and soon after, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea arrived with Pontius Pilate’s permission to bury Jesus. John, Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary the wife of Clopas (Mary’s sister and brother-in-law, Jesus’ aunt and uncle), and Mary Magdalene were already there.

Anyone who’s lost a close friend or relative knows the experience of having the grief put on hold while the funeral tasks are done. The feelings of busyness gives the feelings of loss a place to hide. Perhaps the last six people with Jesus experienced the same thing. Climbing, holding an arm or leg while the nails were removed, preparing a place to lay his body, discarding the crown of thorns, wiping away blood, applying the spices Nicodemus provided. Then they carried him to the tomb, rested him inside, and rolled a stone over the entrance. They went home to prepare the concoction that would mask the smell of death and decay for when they would go back to the tomb. And then… nothing.

The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. (Luke 23:55-56)

There was nothing they could do. It was the Sabbath day, and they were literally not allowed to be busy. They had a whole day of doing nothing but sitting with the loss, replaying the last few days. How did things fall apart so fast? They were so sure he was the Messiah—how could they have been so wrong? What would they do now? Would anyone else ever make them feel how Jesus made them feel, or inspire them the way Jesus inspired them?

They had a whole day to sit with these thoughts, a whole day to let it sink in—Jesus was dead. That second day would have been a very long, sad day…