Sitting in the Tomb

“Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

John 19:30

I imagine myself sitting in the rock hewn tomb. I am quiet and still. It is dark and feelings of sorrow and conviction fill me. Sorrow for the cruelty of man’s inhumanity to man, a senseless death, an innocent man. Conviction, because my fallen nature, my sinfulness, has led to this.

Sadness fills my heart, grief overcomes me, as I absorb the weight of my own sin, resting on my Savior. 

“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.”

Mark 15:46

Sin destroys life.

Jesus lays lifeless in the tomb. I watch those closest to Jesus mourning. The others who were by Jesus’ side for several years have scattered for fear that they too would endure the same fate. I wonder what I would have chosen, to sit at the foot of the cross or scatter. I step back further into the tomb and let those who carefully lowered Jesus off the cross be near. They wrap His body in linen, prepare the burial with myrrh and aloes. I watch from a distance, for I feel like I am intruding on this intimate and tender moment.

I can feel the overwhelming power of grief His mother, Mary carries. It is more than I can bear, as I sink into the corner of the tomb. Others comfort her, then, they too step back as Mary holds her child one last time. She tells her son of her love for Him, as her tears soak the linen cloth. No one speaks. Only sorrow can be heard, a distinct and piercing sound.

It is time to leave. The companions exit first, then Mary follows. She stops before exiting the tomb and turns one more time to see her son. And the words of Simeon come flooding back, “…and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

With that, Mary leaves the tomb and the companions comfort her.

“Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.”

Mark 15:46

They all walk away…