The women who had come with Him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how the body was laid. Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath, they rested according to the commandment.
Luke 23:55
The women referenced in this passage followed Jesus from Galilee, watched Him suffer and die, and took the time to see where He would be buried. Luke doesn't mention their names until later in his gospel--Luke 24:10—"Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James and several other women". Try to imagine what they were feeling—sadness, disappointment, confusion. They must have been devastated and thinking that their beloved Jesus was not their Messiah.
What could they do for Jesus now? It was a little thing perhaps, but they decided to make sure that He received the honor of a proper burial. They planned to go home and prepare the spices and ointments, and to come back early Sunday morning to anoint His body. And, in obedience to God, they rested on the Sabbath before preparing His body. I imagine that they could hardly wait for the Sabbath to be over so that they could perform this small act of caring and love. Their plan shows us that they were still expecting Jesus to remain dead. They were not expecting Him to rise from the dead!
Their commitment to Him was evident in little things. And because of their devotion, they were the first to know about the Resurrection. How about us—what can we do for Jesus now? Can you think of something you can do today to show your love and devotion to Him—no matter how small it may seem to you?
Nancy Horkan
