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No One Expected the Resurrection
"Joseph asks for Jesus’ body to fulfill Deuteronomy 21:22–23. He does not think it appropriate that Jesus should be buried in a pauper’s grave. He takes possession of the body, brings it down from the cross, and wraps it in linen (sindon)—probably a fine cloth. Joseph places the body in a previously unused tomb hewed out of rock. The tomb was probably tunneled out of the side of a rock, having a small door-like entrance of perhaps a yard in height. Such tombs were present just north of the city. Jesus receives an honorable burial.
Luke notes it is “Preparation Day,” the day before the Sabbath. Thus, it is about sunset on Friday. On this day everything for the Sabbath had to be prepared. Joseph quickly finishes the task before sunset, since the Sabbath began at that time. His action does not take place privately, for some women observe him as he lays Jesus in the tomb. They apparently never left the scene of the cross (cf. v. 49). The fact that these women are from Galilee indicates that they have been disciples for some time and know Jesus well. They will not make a mistake as to whether and where Joseph has taken Jesus.
As the women prepare for the Sabbath, they also prepare spices and perfumes, a custom common for Jews, since they did not embalm. The spices and perfumes were placed on the body to reduce the stench and decomposition. These women fully intend to return to the tomb. They want to continue to honor the Lord. There is no indication they expect a resurrection that involves Jesus’ body." [1] (emphasis mine)
The key takeaway here? No one expected Jesus to raise from the dead. For them, it was over. The man they thought would deliver them all was dead. This might sound a little ridiculous - of course He was dead! I mention it because there have been a lot of people in recent years suggesting that the resurrection was expected and hence engineered by the apostles (by merely drugging Jesus, stealing His body, etc.). Those concerns each need to be dealt with individually, but first let's establish the fact that the Gospels clearly indicate Jesus was dead and that no one was expecting anything else.
No One Expected the Resurrection
"Joseph asks for Jesus’ body to fulfill Deuteronomy 21:22–23. He does not think it appropriate that Jesus should be buried in a pauper’s grave. He takes possession of the body, brings it down from the cross, and wraps it in linen (sindon)—probably a fine cloth. Joseph places the body in a previously unused tomb hewed out of rock. The tomb was probably tunneled out of the side of a rock, having a small door-like entrance of perhaps a yard in height. Such tombs were present just north of the city. Jesus receives an honorable burial.
Luke notes it is “Preparation Day,” the day before the Sabbath. Thus, it is about sunset on Friday. On this day everything for the Sabbath had to be prepared. Joseph quickly finishes the task before sunset, since the Sabbath began at that time. His action does not take place privately, for some women observe him as he lays Jesus in the tomb. They apparently never left the scene of the cross (cf. v. 49). The fact that these women are from Galilee indicates that they have been disciples for some time and know Jesus well. They will not make a mistake as to whether and where Joseph has taken Jesus.
As the women prepare for the Sabbath, they also prepare spices and perfumes, a custom common for Jews, since they did not embalm. The spices and perfumes were placed on the body to reduce the stench and decomposition. These women fully intend to return to the tomb. They want to continue to honor the Lord. There is no indication they expect a resurrection that involves Jesus’ body." [1] (emphasis mine)
The key takeaway here? No one expected Jesus to raise from the dead. For them, it was over. The man they thought would deliver them all was dead. This might sound a little ridiculous - of course He was dead! I mention it because there have been a lot of people in recent years suggesting that the resurrection was expected and hence engineered by the apostles (by merely drugging Jesus, stealing His body, etc.). Those concerns each need to be dealt with individually, but first let's establish the fact that the Gospels clearly indicate Jesus was dead and that no one was expecting anything else.
[1] Darrell L. Bock, The NIV Application Commentary: Luke (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 602-03.
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