Holy Week: Saturday

SATURDAY

Women at tomb (Mt. 27:61; Mk. 15:47; Mk. 23:55, 56)

Guard (Mt. 27:62-66)

Jesus’ body lay in its tomb, where it was guarded by Roman soldiers throughout the day on Saturday, which was the Sabbath. When the Sabbath ended at 6 p.m., Christ’s body was ceremonially treated for burial with spices purchased by Nicodemus:

Nicodemus, like Joseph of Arimathea, was a member of the Sanhedrin, the court that had condemned Jesus Christ to death. For a time, both men had lived as secret followers of Jesus, afraid to make a public acknowledgment of faith because of their prominent positions in the Jewish community.

Similarly, both were deeply affected by Christ’s death. They risked their reputations and their lives because they had come to realize that Jesus was, indeed, the long-awaited Messiah. Together they cared for the body of the Savior and prepared it for burial.