JOSEPH of Arimethea
risked to approach Pilate for Jesus' body
the afternoon of His crucifixion.
Pilate was surprised that Jesus had already died
and asked for confirmation.
The centurion that had witnessed Jesus' final breath
acknowledged that Jesus had indeed died,
and Pilate consented to Joseph's request.
Joseph bought linen in which to wrap Jesus' body,
took the body from the cross, wound the linen cloth tightly around it,
then placed it in a tomb cut out of rock.
He rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.
It was a way of showing his love.

The Sabbath had begun and Jesus' followers rested
(as Jesus was now doing).
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene,
Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices
so that they might go to the tomb as the sun was rising
to anoint Jesus' body.
They wondered who would move the large stone
that covered the entrance
but discovered that it was already rolled aside
and the body of their Jesus was not there.
Their bodies were immobilized, their minds running rapidly,
searching for explanation.
Then they saw an angel and heard him
addressing their concerns, answering their unspoken questions:
he sought to quiet their fears,
he acknowledged Who they were looking for (their crucified Lord),
confirmed His earlier presence and present absence
(He was risen!),
and told them to “go, tell His disciples and Peter”
that He was going ahead of them and would meet them in Galilee
(as He had promised).
Their bodies now trembling and their minds bewildered,
they left the scene, saying nothing to anyone,
until Mary Magdalene located the mourning disciples
and delivered the message of His resurrection.
They did not believe what she told them.
Even when Jesus appeared to two of them personally
as they were walking in the countryside
and they believed,
the other disciples did not.
Then, Jesus appeared to all eleven of them as they were eating,
rebuked them for their lack of faith and stubborn refusal to believe
those who had seen Him after His resurrection.

To ponder:
Who in this account do you most closely identify with?
When we, who have known and loved Jesus,
live in ways that deny or cast doubt on His presence and power,
what is it that Jesus would say to us?

Twila Charles Leichty