The Empty Tomb (1/3)

Paola Alvites, Lima, Peru

Quiet time series originally published for Easter 2021

Friday – March 29, 2024

Read: John 19:28-42, Mark 15:42-47, Matthew 27:57-61, Isaiah 53:9

Reflect: One of the most meaningful experiences in life is that of a relationship. The bride and groom looking at each other on their wedding day. Parents holding their newborn baby. Sons and daughters holding their elderly parents in their arms on the last day of life. Then discovering the pain of physical separation and giving loved ones the final care of their body and choosing the resting place of their remains. I can't help but think that God intended it this way—for relating to one another to be so full of meaning; and how much more so our relationship with God and Jesus Himself.

Jesus' relationship with the women in His lifetime left them with experiences of care, compassion, comfort, repentance, service, encouragement, knowledge, love, forgiveness and spiritual freedom. He, Himself, was revealing God the Father (Hebrews 1:3) and bringing His whole message to fulfilment (Matthew 5:17). Each of these women could tell her own story of her moments with Jesus and of her own experience during the last days of His life here on earth. As we know from John 21:25, if everything Jesus did were written down, the books written would not fit the whole world.

Jesus had once presented Himself as the one who had nowhere to lay His head, sustained mainly by the word of God. Yet on the day of His death, without burial insurance or property for the repose of His remains, He had all that was needed to be buried in regal dignity and honor. But mostly, He had the affection, gratitude and service of His followers.

Jesus’ body was laid to rest in a new tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathea. This rich man, a secret disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews, visited Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Nicodemus (John 19:39) arrived with 34 kg (75 lb) of an expensive mixture of myrrh and aloe. So both of them, following the Jewish tradition for burial, wrapped Jesus' body in clean linen cloths with those aromatic spices used for important people and placed them inside the tomb near the place of crucifixion. Even before His crucifixion, Jesus had been anointed with expensive perfume by the woman who entered Simon's house where He was (Matthew 26:12) as a preparation for His burial.

Respond: Because of the relationships that Jesus had developed in carrying out the will of His Father during His lifetime, His burial was one of dignity. Even today, we witness memorial services for disciples that give honor to the way they lived and the impact they have had on those around them. Consider and answer: What impact has Jesus’ life had on me? Think of a faithful disciple who has passed away in my lifetime. What impact has his or her life had on me? What impact do I want my life to have on others? Let us make a decision today to live a life that inspires those around us.