Luke 23:55-56 (NIV) 55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Lk 23:55-56). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
What would have happened if the women who were going to prepare Jesus’ body for burial had not observed the commandment? It would have been a noble and worthy cause to prepare the body of the one they believed to be the Christ for burial… regardless of the commandment… regardless of the Sabbath.
Just let that scene play out for a moment. Pretend you are one of those women. I imagine that I would justify it something like this…
“I know that the Sabbath is beginning (remember it began at sundown), but Jesus has just been taken down from the cross! The Son of God is wrapped only in linen and put in a tomb. This is NO WAY for the Son of God to be treated! Certainly God would forgive me if I take a few hours to prepare Jesus in a proper and fitting way. It won’t take that long…“
You can see where this is going. I can see myself doing that; in fact, I see myself do stuff like that all the time! Had those women proceeded down that path, in stead of doing what they knew God had commanded (keeping the Sabbath holy) they would have missed Jesus!!!!
There would have been NO reason to go back to the tomb on the 3rd day… on Resurrection Day!
Papa,
I pray that today, I do what I know you have called me to do. I pray that in my own ignorance and foolish wisdom, I don’t miss seeing you today! Keep my heart tuned to you Lord, keep my ears open to your instruction. I don’t ever want to miss Jesus!!
Running After Papa….