Matthew 27:57-66 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 27:57-66 on biblegateway.com
Verse 57When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. Verse 58He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. Verse 59So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth Verse 60and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. Verse 61Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb. Verse 62The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate Verse 63and said, "Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, 'After three days I will rise again.' Verse 64Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, 'He has been raised from the dead,' and the last deception would be worse than the first." Verse 65Pilate said to them, "You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can." Verse 66So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.
Devotion
“He descended to the dead” (Apostles Creed). Today is the day for Jesus to rest in the tomb. Rest? Hardly. We teach and believe that Christ went even to hell to offer his saving rescue for all those already dead. Oh this silent day in the midst of the triduum, Jesus is not just waiting, but redeeming all those who had no time to know him in life. So he does for us still. He comes in to all the places of death and despair in our lives as one who has gone there before us. He comes to rescue, redeem and raise us up. Hallelujah!
Prayer
Holy God, we thank you for the rescue of all those who need you most, through Christ our Savior. Amen.