The Death and Resurrection Consolidated

The Burial

The sun was now well past its mid-day throne; it was nearly 5 O'Clock. Still, though, it was Friday. The evening was yet to come, and the procession ambled toward a white-washed tomb that had never been used. It was still fresh-- Joseph had bought the location and built it for himself to house his body when it came time (Jews try to be buried near Jerusalem. If they cannot be, they have dirt from the 'Holy Land'-- especially around 'Zion'-- sprinkled on their graves). But, now, he knew he would never use it. It was now too holy-- and too painful a reminder to this day.

The area was rather lovely. Bushes and small trees abounded. Grasses and flowers reared up here and there-- mandrakes, anemones, daffodils, and a few flowering herbs and grasses were all in bloom where the sun did not beat down so harshly. At the time, Israel was not as dry as it is today. Being spring, many plants were flourishing in the Promised Land.

Next to the tomb was a grist stone. Though normally of great value, it was to seal Joseph's tomb because he had plenty of money. One person could remove small boulders and bricks, but it took two strong men to hold back a stone like this, and one to put a smaller boulder in the rut to lock it in an 'open' position. This set-up gave more security. The tomb itself was a white-washed hole in the rock-face of a steep hill it was built into. Though an expensive possession, it was not fit for a king-- let alone the King of Kings; yet this was not why it would not be occupied for long.

The women, seeing where the tomb was, departed. The day was nearly over-- it was already past 4 O'Clock (in our understanding). The Sabbath would begin at 6 PM, and they still had to finish their preparations. Mary Magdalene suggested to the other Mary that they should buy more perfumes and spices for His body. It would give them some consolation, if nothing else.

As they hurried off, the Christian men took Jesus inside the tomb. Though a couple priests were about to step in, the burly Roman centurion stepped in front of the doorway. "You will stay here."

The leading priest was about to protest, but one look up into the eyes of the Roman told him he had better keep quiet, and he sulked back to his cohorts.

Inside, the men tenderly wiped away the blood on Jesus' body. They could not properly bathe Him, for they had no water. But the aloe-salve helped some, and the myrrh combined with it helped to fill in the deep gashes; their actions and applications cleaned Him up sufficiently, that they could wrap Him in white.

After over half an hour, they kissed His face good-bye as per Jewish custom, and they came out of the tomb-- their hearts and minds heavy.

Grumbling, the priests made rude comments about the length of time they had taken and about how the Sabbath was at hand. "Seal it!" they commanded after the leading priest ensured that Jesus' body was in the tomb

Though the centurion wanted to make them wait, John suggested that they had better do so as the Sabbath, indeed, was at hand-- and it was a day of rest as commanded by God.

Commanding the two lower soldiers whom the priests had brought, the centurion and they hefted the stone up and rolled it into the track carved for it. It was as a small valley, so that the stone would always roll into position over the door-- and no one man could keep it at bay.

"You two," the priest commanded, "Roll that stone into place. Then, stay here and keep watch for the night. He must stay here three days."

The soldiers rolled the stone into place, and the priests put the seal on the door-- a stearn though silent warning to every Jew. The priests' harsh glower bore into Nicodemus and Joseph. After a lingering stare, they departed.

The men waited around for a few moments, before they, too, left. They were worried, but they could do nothing but trust in God.