When Evil's Time Ran Out

The Simple Prelude to the Resurrection

Photo by Aron Visuals on Unsplash

This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. (Luke 23:52-56)

Evil had its time. Sinful men killed the Lord of Life with envy, lies, flogging and nails, and presumed to render him “unclean” (accursed by God’s law) by hanging him on the cross.

Then, in the stillness of Jesus’ tomb, evil’s time started running out. Luke’s Gospel reveals that acts of righteousness were taking place, continuing to fulfill God’s law and render “clean” what sin sought to defile.

Joseph of Arimathea, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God… asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid (Luke 23:50-53)

A “used tomb” would have amplified the “uncleanness” inflicted on Jesus on the cross. Jesus himself had used tombs as an illustration of corruption as he debated those who sought his death,

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. (Matthew 23:27)

So Joseph of Arimathea provided a new tomb, where no corruption had been allowed, and placed the body of Jesus there. Evil’s bogus portrayal of Jesus began to be erased by Joseph’s offering of an undefiled tomb. He had no idea that he was helping to set evil just a Sabbath away from defeat.

Women who had hoped in Jesus followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how Jesus’ body was laid. They went home to prepare anointing fragrances to care for Jesus’ body with reverence.

But as much as they were anxious to give their Rabbi a proper burial, they observed the law of God and rested on the Sabbath. Through them Jesus, even in death, brought forth righteousness. Jesus and the women honored the Sabbath Commandment — they rested.

The faithful women returned to the tomb at the dawn of the new week, not realizing that they had played a quiet part in the cosmos-changing transition from the reign of evil to the birth of the new creation.

Perhaps the actions of Joseph and the women can help us grasp the mystery expressed by Peter,

Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3:11-13)

We are not zealots like the the rebels on Masada, or the Islamic Revolutionaries of Iran, believing that our actions can force God to create the world we want.

But by our simple acts of faithfulness and obedience, our waiting for the new heavens and new earth can become the passionate prayer, Maranatha — Our Lord, come! The Sabbath attentiveness and waiting by Joseph of Arimathea and the women who followed Jesus subtly turned desolation toward victory.

John of the Cross wrote, God desires the least degree of obedience and submissiveness more than all those services you think of rendering him (Sayings of Light and Love 13) May the return of our Lord hasten as our simple self offerings meet God’s desire.