READING: Matthew 27:32-66, Mark 15:21-47, Luke 23:26-56, John 19:17-42, Psalm 22
“They placed Jesus there.”
John 19:42
Chapter divisions in the Bible aren’t always that helpful. They help us identify sections and guide us in our readings, but sometimes they get in the way. Today, though, the chapter divisions make sense.
Each of the gospel readings for today ends in a most tragic moment:
- “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. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were watching where he was laid.” (Mark 15:56-57)
- “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.” (John 19:41-42)
- “’You have a guard of soldiers,’ Pilate told them. ‘Go and make it as secure as you know how.’ They went and secured the tomb by setting a seal on the stone and placing the guard.” (Matt. 27:65-66).
- “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.” (Luke 23:55-56)
The story of Jesus was over, it seemed. Against the mocking words of the crowds at His crucified feet, He had chosen not to save Himself. He was dead, and the soldiers intended to make that clear. No one could possibly take His body from a sealed and guarded tomb.
Jesus could, though, come out from the inside. Angels could roll the stone away. The story was not over.
There were more chapters to come.
Praise the Lord!
ACTION STEPS:
- Thank God that the story was not over with today’s readings. .
- Thank God for an empty tomb.
PRAYER: “Jesus, I praise You as the one who died in our place.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20-21
