05.04.2015 New Testament: Luke 23.54–56

To read the Bible in a year, read Luke 23.39–56 on May 4, In the year of our Lord 2015

By Don Ruhl

What sadness overshadowed the followers of Jesus Christ! Yet, when the people took the body of Jesus down from the cross, some women followed who wanted to prepare the body for burial,

That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near. And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment (Luke 23.54–56). 

We would certainly have understood if they had decided to stay and anoint the body of our Lord, but in observance of the Sabbath, they merely observed where others laid the body and the women would return after the Sabbath to do what they wanted to do.

Though very sad, they knew they had to keep the Sabbath, for it was Jesus who had truly given the Sabbath to Israel.