waiting in a borrowed tomb

So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

John 19:42

Immediately after Jesus’ crucifixion, it appeared that death had won. The Roman soldiers drained the body of blood with one spear thrust. A shy follower of Jesus named Joseph of Arimathea received official permission from the Roman governor to take the body and together with another secret disciple, Nicodemus, prepared the body according to Jewish custom in burial. They then laid Jesus to rest in Joseph’s own tomb.

There was no doubt that Jesus was dead. A death squad of Roman soldiers confirmed it. A government official signed the dead body over for burial. Two Jewish leaders prepared the body and entombed Him in the garden.

But Jesus only borrowed that grave! He would not stay in that tomb. Yet, for His disciples there was sadness, fear, and seemingly no end to the waiting. It had to feel awful! There world turned upside down in the matter of just a few days. This man had done nothing worthy of the kind of humiliation, ridicule, cruelty, and abuse that He suffered. The waiting in this sadness was unbearable.

But beyond Friday’s crucifixion would come a bright resurrection! We know that now. We rejoice, knowing Jesus only waited in that borrowed tomb so that we might be forgiven and know life forever in Him! Death does not win. It did not defeat Jesus. It will never have the upper hand on those who are His! Praise God, death has lost its sting and the grave is never the end!