CHRIST'S BURIAL
"Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and THAT HE WAS BURIED, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures" - 1 Cor 15:1-4

Devotion 9 of 14

THE FAITHFUL WOMEN
      With all of the denigration of women, it is refreshing to see them surface in the glorious Gospel! When Jesus was on the way to the cross, being derided by others, women ministered to Him and wept for Him. Jesus called them "Daughters of Jerusalem," a most endearing term (Luke 23:28). Some of these women had "followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto Him" (Matt 27:55). How wonderful their conduct at the time of Christ's death and burial.

When He was buried
      The disciples of Jesus forsook Him when He was betrayed, and went away in despair after He died.  It was not so with several of the woman, however. "And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the grave" (Matt 27:61, NASB). What a tender scene! While Joseph and Nicodemus laid the body of Jesus in a new tomb, women that had been liberated by Jesus sat opposite the tomb! They could not let Him go! Their hearts had been knit to Him as He blessed them. They did not forget Him in His life, nor did they abandon Him in His death!  They did not know He was going to rise from the dead. They had not been commanded to sit opposite the grave. Their hearts managed their actions, and the Spirit recorded it in the Gospel!

On the First Day of the Week
      Although Nicodemus had brought 75 pounds of spices in which to wrap the body of Jesus, the women returned to anoint Him with additional spices. They apparently did not know of some contemporary view of a lifeless body. It is shameful that many people this side of the cross have less understanding of these things than these relatively uninformed women. "And when the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. And very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen" (Mark 16:1-2, NASB).

      These were not average people! Their hearts did not override their minds. Even though they were brokenhearted, gripped by a sense of futility, they still honored the Sabbath day, keeping it holy. When the first day of the week came, they did not sleep in because they were weary. It has been a long and arduous night, but they were physically, as well as spiritually, alert. They came to the tomb "very early . . . when the sun has risen." That would put their visit around the 6:00 A.M. hour-
-and they came to see a dead Jesus!

      Do not dismiss this incident as though it has no relevance. This is included in the Gospel of Christ. The Holy Spirit did not want us to miss this blessed reaction--and it is associated with the burial of Jesus! You will travel far and wide before finding a "Christian" with this type of commitment! These ladies were endeared to Jesus, and even His death and burial could not shut their hearts down, or make their affection cold!

      These faithful women were not caught up in a mere tide of emotion. They remained in full possession of their faculties. They knew Joseph and Nicodemus had wrapped the body of Christ in spices--they saw them do it. But that was not enough. They had enough presence of mind to gather some more spices, and come to personally anoint their Lord's body. They also contemplated the large stone that was before the entrance of the tomb. They had seen it rolled there, but  that did not keep them from coming. They pondered who would roll it away for them (Mark 16:2), but that did not stop them from coming.

      What marvelous lessons can be learned from these women! The honor bestowed upon Jesus by others is not enough. We must give Him homage ourselves! When we determine to come to Christ, obstacles will be addressed by the Lord of glory. No person will be disappointed that determines to honor the Lord's Christ!

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the blessed name of Jesus, give me grace to have the same presence of mind, zeal, and devotion as was revealed in these precious women!

-- TOMORROW: THE ANOINTING --