And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid

 

 There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome, who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.  

 

Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.  Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time.  So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.  Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen.  And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.  And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid.

 

- Mark 15:40–47 

 

On Saturday, we read that, at the Crucifixion, when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.  And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"  Some of those who stood by, when they heard that, said, "Look, He is calling for Elijah!"  Then someone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink, saying, "Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down."  And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.  Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.  So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, "Truly this Man was the Son of God!"  

 

  There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome, who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.   My study Bible comments on the faithfulness of these women.  It says that this shows that in Christ, divine order is being restored to the fallen world.  Whereas Eve was created to complete Adam (Genesis 2:18), but instead led him to sin (Genesis 3:6), now these women disciples remain faithful while the men flee and hide.  It's the women who bring the message of Resurrection to the men (Mark 16:9-11; Luke 24:9-11), therefore restoring that which had been broken through sin.  

 

 Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.  Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time.  So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.  Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen.  And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.  And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses observed where He was laid.   My study Bible notes that if the apostles had buried Christ, doubters could claim His body was simply hidden away.  Joseph of Arimathea being both a prominent council member refutes any possibility that the Lord's body was deceptively hidden by the apostles.  

 

In today's reading, we are given examples of great importance regarding those who persist in quiet obedience and dedicated discipleship.  The women whose faith in Christ keeps them active for Christ even just upon His death, even when the Twelve are in hiding, show us what it is to be truly devoted.  They are not the ones chosen for an outward ministry to be sent out to all the world. Yet, their discipleship has been absolutely necessary both to the story of Jesus -- such as in today's reading -- and also for their support of Christ's ministry since Galilee, from whence they have followed Him to Jerusalem.  Joseph of Arimathea has not been known as an outspoken follower of Christ, but as we're told in the Gospel, he takes courage -- and great courage -- and openly goes to Pilate and asks for Christ's body, so it can be put into a tomb hewn out of the rock.  Think of the care we're told about here:   he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen.  He also  rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.  Without this tomb, without this burial, and without that stone, would we even have the story we have about what is to follow?  These women, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome, who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem, and Joseph of Arimathea, are all doing what they must in such a situation.  They do what is appropriate and right.  They are not considering a revolution, they aren't running out and demanding to be placed in roles of great importance in terms of hierarchy, but they are quietly doing what must be done.  And we must recognize such a place for our own devotion as disciples, and how we are called upon to act under various circumstances.  Sometimes this is all that we can do, and it is the only appropriate thing to do.  But these are acts nevertheless of great courage and tremendous love and devotion, and we must recognize them as such.  It is a glorious thing that these people are memorialized in the Gospel, for so often this kind of humble service is not recognized as extraordinary, but indeed it is necessary and extraordinary.  For discipleship takes on its color and tone through love, not through grandiose behavior or great speeches or even starring roles.  But these are those who act, nonetheless, while others are in fear and hiding, or paralyzed in terror and shock at what has happened to Christ, and that He has died on the Cross.  If not for their devotion, where would we be?  So let us put a high priority on our own capacity to follow in quiet service and duty, doing what must be done, in times of great stress or sorrow or shocking events that may shake us to the bone.  For it is in doing our quiet duty, the things we know are right and must be done, that we place one foot in front of the other in obedience to God, and begin to pick up the pieces of our lives at such times, and find our way to the goodness of God.  Most especially in times of great tragedy, let us follow in their footsteps and look to their example.  We listen to today's text for these small yet greatly powerful acts of compassion and love.   Let us not discount the quiet roles of service, and their absolute essential necessity to the plans of our God.