Matthew 27:57-66 | Job 14:1-14 | Gospels in Lent Track: Matthew 27-28 (You’re finished!)
Saturday is the sabbath. There is no shortage of meaning in Jesus’ body laying in the ground on this day. He had accomplished much work in the week prior to the sabbath. And you’d better believe a new week is to begin the next day.
In one way, we live in an on-going Holy Saturday, the nature of which is that we’re awaiting resurrection.
In the meantime, religious leaders continue to fretfully pace and governmental leaders are rather indifferent. The faithful - rich men and concerned women alike - tend to Jesus the best they know how.
And no one really knows what’s about to happen.
Matthew 27:57-66
That evening a man named Joseph came. He was a rich man from Arimathea who had become a disciple of Jesus. He came to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate gave him permission to take it. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had carved out of the rock. After he rolled a large stone at the door of the tomb, he went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting in front of the tomb.
The next day, which was the day after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate. They said, “Sir, we remember that while that deceiver was still alive he said, ‘After three days I will arise.’ Therefore, order the grave to be sealed until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people, ‘He’s been raised from the dead.’ This last deception will be worse than the first.”
Pilate replied, “You have soldiers for guard duty. Go and make it as secure as you know how.” Then they went and secured the tomb by sealing the stone and posting the guard.
Job 14:1-14
All of us are born of women,
have few days, and are full of turmoil.
Like a flower, we bloom, then wither,
flee like a shadow, and don’t last.
(Yes, you open your eyes on this one;
you bring me into trial against you.)
Who can make pure from impure?
Nobody.
If our days are fixed, the number of our months with you,
you set a statute and we can’t exceed it.
Look away from us that we may rest,
until we are satisfied like a worker at day’s end.
Indeed there is hope for a tree.
If it’s cut down and still sprouting
and its shoots don’t fail,
if its roots age in the ground
and its stump dies in the dust,
at the scent of water, it will bud
and produce sprouts like a plant.
But a human dies and lies there;
a person expires, and where is he?
Water vanishes from the sea;
a river dries up completely.
But a human lies down and doesn’t rise
until the heavens cease;
they don’t get up and awaken from sleep.
I wish you would hide me in the underworld,
conceal me until your anger passes,
set a time for me, and remember me.
If people die, will they live again?
All the days of my service I would wait
until my restoration took place.
Prayer1
God, Creator of heaven and earth:
Grant that, as the crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of life;
who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Today’s prayer is adapted from the Book of Common Prayer.