Context No. 4046 of 4322 · Matthew

Matthew 27:55-61: in context

55Many women were there watching from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, serving him. 56Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. 57When evening had come, a rich man from Arimathaea named Joseph, who himself was also Jesus’ disciple, came. 58This man went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given up. 59Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth 60and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock. Then he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. 61Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.

As Jesus dies and is buried, his enemies have had their way, and most of his disciples have fled. But this passage lingers on those who stayed. Many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee stood watching from a distance, present in his suffering and death. And Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy man and disciple, comes forward at real risk to ask Pilate for the body, wraps it in clean linen, and lays it in his own new tomb.

And when it is done, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary sit opposite the tomb, keeping watch. There is quiet faithfulness here that shines against the darkness. When Jesus seemed defeated, when there was nothing left to gain and much to lose by being associated with a crucified man, these women stayed, and Joseph stepped forward. Their devotion did not depend on Jesus' success; they loved and served him even in what looked like total defeat. It is easy to follow Jesus when things are going well; it is another thing to stay faithful, present, and devoted when all seems lost, when there is nothing to gain and a cost to pay.

Is my devotion to Jesus the kind that stays faithful and present even when there seems nothing to gain and a cost to pay, like the women who watched and Joseph who buried him, or does it depend on things going well?

Sources

Matthew 27:55: "Many women were there watching from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, serving him."
Matthew 27:57-58: "A rich man from Arimathaea named Joseph, who himself was also Jesus' disciple, came... and asked for Jesus' body."
Matthew 27:61: "Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb."