40 There were also women looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome, 41 who followed him when he was in Galilee and ministered to him, and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem. 42 When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Then Pilate wondered if he was already dead, and summoning the centurion he asked him whether he had been dead for some time. 45 When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. 46 Then Joseph bought a linen cloth and, taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was laid.
Prayer Focus: The disciples had all fled, but the women looked on from a distance. They were not right there, but they were close enough to see. Joseph of Arimathea, whom we have not met before in this Gospel, stands in for the disciples to prepare Jesus’ body for burial. He wraps the body in a linen cloth, but does not anoint it with spices. Do you remember when the body was anointed for burial? Joseph laid the body in a tomb that had been hewn out of rock and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. The women see where the body was laid. And now we wait. Pray that you might wait today. Wait for the Lord.
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