|
49. The Burial.
The crucifixion of
the Lord took place on a Friday. That same evening the Sabbath broke on
Easter, a very holy day for the Jews. That is why the crucified had to
be taken down on that day. Before they took Jesus' body down, one of the
soldiers stabbed him in the side with a spear. Blood and water flowed
from the wound. While the friends of Jesus were worried about what other
dishonour might befall the body of the dearly departed, the rich and
noble councillor Joseph of Arimathea came to Pilate and asked him to
give him the body of Jesus for burial. Nicodemus also came. These two
took the disembodied body and wrapped it in fine linen with precious
spices. Joseph owned a garden not far from the place where the Lord was
crucified. In the garden was a prepared new tomb in which he himself
wanted to be buried. It had just been hewn out of a rock. His friends
laid Jesus' body in the tomb and rolled a large, heavy stone in front of
the opening, as if everything was now at an end.
|
||
|
|