The tomb hewn out of rock

And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, were there looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.

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.

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.

- Matthew 27:55-66

In yesterday's reading, we read of Jesus' death on the cross. (See About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice.) In the immediate aftermath of his death, events in Jerusalem caused the centurion, and those with him who were guarding Jesus, to say, "Truly this was the Son of God!" In today's reading, we continue with the events in the lives of his followers after his death.

And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, were there looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons. At Jesus death, we are told of the women who are there looking on from afar. These women have been faithful followers throughout Jesus' ministry. Many of them, we have been told, ministered to Jesus and to his followers, often supporting his ministry through their own resources. In the Eastern Churches, Mary Magdalene, for example, is called Apostle to the Apostles. We should never forget the powerful, strong, and deeply involved role that women played in Jesus' ministry, right from the beginning. As we are told, many women are there, who followed Jesus from Galilee. We will see how they play a decisive role now in the aftermath of his death. My study bible notes here that Mary the Mother of James and Joses is not to be confused with Mary the mother of Jesus; Jesus is never called "Joses" in the Bible.

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. My study bible notes that to ask for the body of Jesus for burial is a bold public act even for this influential and wealthy man. In Mark's gospel, we are told that Joseph of Arimathea was a "prominent council member" of the Sanhedrin. So, we must understand that among the temple leadership, there are those faithful who follow Christ. Jesus is buried in a new tomb, my study bible notes, "so that no suspicion might later arise that another had risen instead of Christ."

And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb. And once again, Matthew's gospel reminds us that it is the women faithful who continue to minister to Jesus, as the Apostles themselves are scattered. They are the ones who take courage and act boldly in their faithfulness to this man Jesus, who has been universally mocked, degraded and crucified.

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. Inadvertently, perhaps, the chief priests and Pharisees make certain that stories of Jesus' rising from the dead cannot happen deceitfully. We are left with this scene of the sealed stone of the door of the tomb, the guard posted, and the women sitting opposite. The chief priests and Pharisees are still wary of Jesus' power in the hearts of the people who believed him to be a prophet, and what may take place. Although he is dead, they still fear his ministry and his charismatic power in the hearts of the faithful.

So, here we are, in this scene of the aftermath of Jesus' death. Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy and prominent man, has boldly come out to claim Jesus' body, and give him burial in his own new tomb. Among the Old Testament prophecies of Jesus' death, we count Isaiah 53:9: "He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth." Jesus has been assigned death and burial "with the wicked" by crucifixion; but "with the rich in his death" he is buried in a new tomb belonging to the wealthy Joseph of Arimathea. "He has done no violence, and there was never any deceit in his mouth" - yet still, the chief priest and Pharisees, we are told, consider the possibility that there may yet be deceit in the story of Jesus' rising from the dead. The women sit outside the sealed rock tomb, along with the guard. And we await what is to happen. In the quiet of this scene, we await with the faithful, the women who have been with him since Galilee, and Joseph of Arimathea. They are the ones who act in faith at his death. True to the prophecy of Zechariah that Jesus quoted at the Last Supper, "strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered," the Apostles are not to be found here. The women remain and minister, and a prominent member of the Sanhedrin provides Christ with a new rock tomb, fit for the wealthy. They do what they must do, they act in faith, they are loyal to Jesus. At the times of our lives when all seem to be scattered, when that which gives us light seems to be gone underground and out of our lives, we do what we must do. Let the examples of these ministers, those who served without being one of the Twelve, be our example. In faith, we do what we must do; in the aftermath of crisis, in love, we do what we must do and we live our love and loyalty and faith to His teachings. Let the great courage of these people be the model for us when we know not what else to do, and we await the light that leads us.