Gospel Meditation

Luke 23:44–56

Find a quiet place, alone and apart from distractions. Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace. Say the Lord’s Prayer. Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself. Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.

1.              Jesus was crucified at 9am, and at noon darkness spread upon that land, an eclipse, clouds, source unknown, and the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies was ripped apart from the top to the bottom; this is where the Ark of the Covenant was.

2               Jesus at that point cried out, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Then Jesus breathed His last, this at 3pm.

3.              Many in the crowd that witnessed the event returned home suffering with deep grief. However, many of Jesus’ followers, and the women from Galilee, remained and watched.

4.              A member of the Sanhedrin, that council of the 70, Joseph of Arimathea, a town just north of Jerusalem, went to Pilate and asked to receive the body of Jesus. Joseph then was permitted to take down Jesus’ body, which he wrapped in a linen shroud. He then placed Jesus in a tomb, likely one that Joseph would be buried in, carved out of stone; no other had been buried there.

5.              This took place between the hours of 3pm and 6pm, and at which hour would begin the “day of Preparation,” and this for the day of Passover.

6.              The Galilean women who had come with Jesus from there, saw where Jesus was placed in the tomb.

7.              And as per their tradition, they returned to where they were staying in Jerusalem and prepared the means for a proper burial.

8.              And as per custom, they rested on the Sabbath, which would end at sundown, about 6pm, Saturday night.