Luke 23:55–56

As his body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed. Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint his body. But by the time they were finished the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law.

There is something beautifully impressive about these verses. The women must have been totally devastated by the death of their Lord. I would imagine that they were experiencing a mixture of devastation and anger mingled with fear that the Romans might be coming after them next. But, amid all of this, they were concerned to do the right thing and anoint the body of Jesus.

On the Friday itself there was very little time to do anything. Jesus had died at 3pm and the Jewish Sabbath began at about 6pm. Joseph of Arimathea asked for the body of Jesus – he probably did so to avoid the corpse being left to the dogs and vultures, which was normal practice with the bodies of criminals. Joseph was a member of the Jewish Council but clearly thought well of Jesus. He was, we are told, waiting for the kingdom of God. He had a lot of work to do to remove the body from the cross and place it in his family tomb before dusk.

The women had no time to anoint Jesus’ body, but they found out where the body had been laid so that they could return early on Sunday morning, once the Sabbath was over. They scurried home to prepare the spices and ointments. I find it deeply moving that, amid their deep grief, we see their devotion to Jesus. When a crisis hits us, it is very easy for us to turn in on ourselves and do nothing. But they didn’t. They turned to those practical things that they could do to show their love for the Lord. Tragic as the circumstances were, preparing for Jesus’ burial was the very best that they could do.

Question

What do you learn from the devotion of the women?

Prayer

Loving God, I thank you for the simple, practical devotion of these women. Help me to keep serving you, however tough the circumstances. Amen