Have you ever been through a night that you thought would never end? It may have been because of the loneliness that you felt when the darkness covered everything. It may have been because you couldn’t sleep because there was something troubling your soul, and getting up would disturb others. I am sure you have had one of those sleepless nights at some point in your life. This must have been how those closest to Jesus felt the night before the resurrection. Because of the Sabbath, they were not allowed to go to the tomb the day after He was buried. However, then came the morning, a morning the women had been waiting for so they could go to Jesus’ grave and properly anoint His body. Matthew 27:57-61 gives us the information pertaining to His burial. A man named Joseph, a follower of Jesus from Arimathaea, went to Pilate and begged for Jesus’ body. Pilate had the body taken down and given to Joseph. He took the body, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was his. The body of Jesus lay in a borrowed tomb. Little did Joseph know this tomb was on loan because, in three days, it would be empty again.
Matthew 27:57-61 “When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed. And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the tomb.”
All night those who followed Jesus must have tossed and turned. Their minds could not comprehend what had happened. Why this miracle man would not bring himself down from the cross, why He did not fight to save His own life. How could the government crucify one who had done no wrong? The women were usually the ones to prepare the body of the deceased. After His body was laid in the tomb Luke 23:56 tells us, “And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.” The women went home to make what they needed to anoint Jesus’ body as soon as daylight came.
Then came the morning, at the first glimmer of the sun the women were off to anoint the body of their friend, their Lord, and their Master. Their love for Him was intense, and they wanted to do the proper burial for their friend. When they arrived, they could not believe their eyes. The stone was moved, and Jesus’ body was gone. They saw two angels and were afraid. They bowed their faces to the ground, and the angels asked them why they sought the living among the dead. Then came the glorious statement from the angels: He is risen!
Luke 24:1-5 ”Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher. And they entered in and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee.”
The two days before, the world was full of darkness and grief. Those who loved Jesus were mourning the death of their friend. They did not understand what had happened, but then came the morning, and everything changed. Death was defeated, and Jesus was alive. Hope was restored forevermore. We, too, can rejoice because when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He brings to us that same hope, joy, and peace that only He can bring. When we are saved, our new life begins. We have been resurrected from a life characterized by sin. When this happens, our morning has come!
