Mourning Turned to Rejoicing

On Saturday of Passion Week we remember the time Jesus spent in the tomb: "So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard" (Matt. 27:66). The Jewish leaders had taken steps to insure that His disciples could not steal the body and then claim He rose from the dead. The Jewish leaders did not miss the fact that Jesus claimed He would rise again.

It was a time of waiting for the disciples, while the women spent the time preparing the spices and other supplies needed to finish preparing His body for burial. Remember, they had buried Jesus in a hurry on Friday because the Sabbath was about to  begin and they needed to have His body in the grave before sundown. Here is the story:

"Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb" (Matt. 27:57-61).

The wait was on, but the chief priests and Pharisees would not stand idly by. They secured the tomb and set up an armed guard to keep a close eye on things: "On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, 'Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, "After three days I will rise." Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, "He has risen from the dead." So the last deception will be worse than the first.' Pilate said to them, 'You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.' So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard" (Matt. 27:62-66).

The disciples were in mourning that Sabbath, but their mourning would soon be turned to rejoicing. Why? Because when the women returned to the grave on Sunday morning to finish preparing His body, they were amazed and in disbelief. The stone had been rolled away and His body was not there!

"Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.' So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word" (Matt. 28:1-8).

Passion Week ends with a victorious celebration filled with great rejoicing. Why? Because Jesus is risen! The grave is empty! All that remains is for us to believe. With all your heart, trust Jesus and walk with Him every day by faith in His death on the cross and His resurrection the third day. Amen.