By Dave Snyder
Scripture: Matthew 27:59-60, Mark 15:46, Luke 23:50-56, John 19:38-42 CSB
So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in clean, fine linen, and placed it in his new tomb, which he had cut into the rock. He left after rolling a great stone against the entrance of the tomb.
After he bought some linen cloth, Joseph took him down and wrapped him in the linen. Then he laid him in a tomb cut out of the rock and rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb.
There was a good and righteous man named Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin, who had not agreed with their plan and action. He was from Arimathea, a Judean town, and was looking forward to the kingdom of God. He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’s body. Taking it down, he wrapped it in fine linen and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever been placed. It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed along and observed the tomb and how his body was placed. Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.
After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus — but secretly because of his fear of the Jews — asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’s body. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and took his body away. Nicodemus (who had previously come to him at night) also came, bringing a mixture of about seventy-five pounds of myrrh and aloes. They took Jesus’s body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the fragrant spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews. There was a garden in the place where he was crucified. A new tomb was in the garden; no one had yet been placed in it. They placed Jesus there because of the Jewish day of preparation and since the tomb was nearby.
Devotion: Jesus is still with us in the silence.
On Saturday, silence fell on the hearts of many. His body was placed in the sealed tomb with guards standing by to watch. Tears were still shed as if the funeral of the great Savior was not over. In a borrowed tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, the only hope for eternity waited.
In the silence, faith was tested. In the silence, anticipation fell into remorse. Can you imagine the feeling that day? Can you picture the scene?
We will go through seasons of silence. We will have moments of our lives in which we can’t hear or see our God work. In seasons of silence, grace speaks louder. When you are caught between the unknown and the fearful; trust in the voice that breaks the silence. I have good news; the Savior is not in that tomb anymore!
I know, spoiler alert. He is risen! We will celebrate that in full force tomorrow morning.
Until tomorrow, I want you to find moments of silence in today. Spend time in deep prayer and reflection on what all happened this passion week.
If you are in a season of silence, keep the faith. Our Lord is working and moving in this world He redeemed. He will lead you. He will answer you. Continue trusting Him. Open His Word, fall more in love with the redemption story, and yield yourself to His spiritual leadership.
Sing.
Pray.
Listen.
Love.
Trust me, the silence doesn’t last long. His voice is stronger.
Dave Snyder
Dave is the pastor at First Baptist Church of Pensacola. He holds an M.Div. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a D.Min. from Southeastern Seminary. Dave has served churches in Georgia, Alabama, and Florida.
