The Burial

Holy Saturday John 19:38-42

38 After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. 39 Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. 40 They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. 42 And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Again, the level of detail surprises us. Why this detail when the crucifixion was told in such a spare manner?

First, in giving this detail John creates space between Jesus’ death and Jesus’ resurrection – he slows his readers down so that they actually live with the pain, the sorrow, the heartbreak of the death of Jesus. He invites his readers to live the words of the hymn, “O come and mourn with me awhile?” If we move too quickly to Easter, if we do not feel the heaviness of Holy Saturday, we miss out on the truths to be learned in the waiting, of being in sorrow and not knowing where to turn. In a world in a rush to find solutions – this passage and Holy Saturday slow us down and say, “Come, sit and wait. Come and experience this moment.”  

Second, even when all seems lost. Even when Jesus is dead. Even when those closest to Jesus have gone into hiding. These two, Joseph and Nicodemus, people of influence, take the risk of identifying themselves as the followers of Jesus. God will never be left without witnesses in the world. Jesus will always have people who will stand up and be counted as his followers. This is a Bible theme. When we think there is no one else who is following Jesus, when we think we are the only one, there are others who have also made that commitment and are following. Sometimes they are people we would not expect, but they are there. These two make sacrifices to bury Jesus. But being a disciple of Jesus is never without a cost.

PRAYER:

On this Holy Saturday, O Lord, we wait, feeling the sorrow and grief of the disciples. Knowing the weight of grief in our own lives. Come and sit with us awhile, as we mourn. In Jesus’ name. Amen.