The Empty Tomb

Far from the cross, a group of women stand together and watch. They followed Jesus all the way from Galilee. They fed him, cared for him, walked beside him for miles and miles. Mary Magdalene is among them. Her eyes never leave that dark hill. She sees everything.

That evening, a rich man named Joseph walks up to Pilate's door. Joseph is a secret follower of Jesus. He asks for the body. Pilate sends for a soldier. "Is the man really dead?" The soldier nods. Pilate gives Joseph what he came for.

Joseph lifts the body down from the cross. He wraps it in clean white cloth, slow and gentle. A man named Nicodemus brings armfuls of sweet spices for the burial. Together they fold the cloth around the body with the spices tucked inside. Then they carry him to a new tomb cut right out of the rock.

Matt 27:55; Mk 15:40; Lk 23:49; Jn 19:25