It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as the evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the Kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph, saw where he was laid.
Mark 15:42-47 NIV
Growing up in Jamaica, I remember learning the significance of Easter—Jesus died for us! On a local television station, I, along with my siblings and cousins, would watch the crucifixion. I recall feeling deeply emotional as I watched Jesus being mocked, nailed to the cross… with his head hanging down and him taking his final breath. The image stayed vivid in my mind over the years.
What happened after the crucifixion? This passage describes Jesus’ burial by Joseph of Arimathea. First, there was a request—Joseph of Arimathea boldly asked Pilate for Jesus’ body. Second, there was a verification—Pilate confirmed that Jesus had truly died before his body was released. Third, the care taken in Jesus’ burial—Joseph bought linen cloth, wrapped Jesus’ body in it, and placed him in a tomb. Not only was Jesus’ body laid in the tomb, but his burial was secured by rolling a large stone in front of the entrance. Finally, Jesus’ burial was witnessed by Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Joseph. They knew where Jesus was laid.
As I read the Scripture, I reflected on the great courage Joseph of Arimathea showed. He was present in the darkest hour, ensuring Jesus’ body was received, cared for, and given a respectful burial. Joseph did what he did because he recognized that Jesus is worthy of honor. Today, Jesus is worthy of our honor and praise. An important question for me is: How am I honoring Jesus in my daily life? Honoring Him might look like obedience, compassion, making time for Him, serving others, and living a life that reflects His character.
At the start of the Scripture, it states, “It was Preparation Day,” the day before the Sabbath. This detail reminds me that this is not the end of Jesus’ story.. There is a waiting period, a pause—Jesus was placed in the tomb, and nothing happened immediately. Yet, we know this is not how the story ends. We know Resurrection Day is coming.
This waiting period resonates deeply with me. In recent years, my family has experienced seasons of loss and grief, with immediate family members passing away from 2021 to 2026. During those moments, everything can feel still, as if we are in an in-between place. Just as Jesus’ story did not end in the tomb, I hold onto the hope that death is not the end of our loved ones’ stories. There is the promise of the resurrection.
I am still in awe of Jesus’ sacrificial love. What greater love is there than for someone to lay down their own life? Jesus did exactly that! He fulfilled God’s promise to humankind. And just as Joseph of Arimathea, Mary Magdalene, and Mary, the mother of Joseph, honored and stayed close to Jesus, may we also be people whose love for Jesus keeps us close to Him and honors Him in how we live each day.
Patrina Jamieson has her PhD in Instructional Leadership from La Sierra University and loves doing life with her La Sierra University Church family.