Unlimited: When The Sabbath Was Over | Good News Unlimited
Unlimited: When the Sabbath Was Over
Sep 9, 2024 1423
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body (Mark 16:1, NIV).
The Sabbath lasted from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday. Jesus was in the tomb from late Friday afternoon and throughout all of Saturday night. In this passage, it is now Sunday morning.
Joseph of Arimathea already anointed Jesus’ body with spices and buried him.
However, the two women whom Mark named as being at the cross also want to demonstrate their devotion to Jesus. So, on Saturday evening, they also buy spices to anoint Jesus’ body themselves.
However, these two women, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome aren’t the only ones. They are likely named as the leaders of the women who plan to honor Jesus in this way.
But it’s too dark to try to visit the tomb, so after a day spent in deepest mourning, they go to spend a sleepless night to await the dawn.
On Saturday night the women brought spices to anoint Christ’s body the following day. This was an act of devotion that came from good and loving intentions.
However, the women prepared for something that Christ’s resurrection would render unnecessary.
What do we do in Sabbath?
Sabbath means Rest. True rest is resting in God’s presence.
In our lives, we worry and are anxious about many things that need not concern us any longer, because Christ died for our sins, and he has risen!
– Eliezer Gonzalez
Eli’s Reflection: So, take stock of your life. Are you spending your emotional and physical resources, like these women did, on what the Cross has rendered unnecessary?
