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From Heaven With Love
charge at the cross and drew from him an account of the scenes of
Calvary, confirming the testimony of Joseph.
Joseph returned with Pilate’s order for the body of Christ, and
Nicodemus came bringing a costly mixture of myrrh and aloes of
about a hundred pounds’ weight for His embalming. The most
honored in all Jerusalem could not have been shown more respect in
death. The disciples were astonished.
Neither Joseph nor Nicodemus had openly accepted the Saviour
while He was living. Such a step would exclude them from the
Sanhedrin, and they hoped to protect Him by their influence in its
councils. But the wily priests had thwarted their plans. In their
absence Jesus had been condemned. Now Joseph and Nicodemus
no longer concealed their attachment to Him. They came boldly to
the aid of the poor disciples.
Gently and reverently with their own hands they removed the
body of Jesus from the cross. Tears of sympathy fell as they looked
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on His bruised and lacerated form. Joseph owned a new tomb, hewn
in rock, reserved for himself. But it was near Calvary, and he now
prepared it for Jesus. There the three disciples straightened the
mangled limbs and folded the bruised hands on the pulseless breast.
The heavy stone was rolled against the entrance of the tomb, and the
Saviour was left at rest.
While the evening shadows were gathering, Mary Magdalene
and the other Marys lingered about the resting place of their Lord,
shedding tears of sorrow. “And they returned, ... and rested the
Sabbath day according to the commandment.”
Luke 23:56
.
That was a never-to-be-forgotten Sabbath to the disciples, the
priests, rulers, scribes, and people. The Passover was observed as it
had been for centuries, while He to whom it pointed lay in Joseph’s
tomb. The courts of the temple were filled with worshipers. The high
priest was there, splendidly robed. Priests, full of activity, performed
their duties.
But some present were not at rest as the blood of bulls and goats
was offered for sin. They were not conscious that type had met
antitype, that an infinite sacrifice had been made for the sins of the
world. But never before had that service been witnessed with such
conflicting feelings. A sense of strangeness pervaded everything.
The most holy place had been sacredly guarded from intrusion, but