Now what?

Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden;
and in the garden a new tomb wherein was never man yet laid.
John 19:41 RV

Jesus has given up his spirit.
His body is taken down off the cross, and placed in a tomb.

If have often thought about the disciples at this point. They have all departed, other than "the one whom he loved" who stayed at the cross with Mary.
I imagine the Beloved Disciple took Mary home. What must have they talked about? I wonder if there are any accounts of this? The walk from Golgotha to BD's house would have been harsh. But entering the house, and sitting down. That moment, when they were alone. That is acute grimness.

And the women,
which had come with him out of Galilee,
followed after,
and beheld the tomb,
and how his body was laid.
And they returned,
and prepared spices and ointments.
And on the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
Luke 23:55-56 RV

The other women do something. They prepare the annointing cream.
This would have been a very sombre , and I imagine, tear fulled evening.
Maybe they recounted stories and events. Little details that are now lost to us. That these have not come down to us is a real tragedy: women and men notice and react to different things.



The time between Jesus giving up the spirit and rising again, was is one becoming prepared: preparing the Church for the service, preparing yourself spiritually. A strange day of happy bustling, and still contemplation.

But, unlike the disciples, Mary, and the women from Galilee, we know how it is going to be. For them, there was no certainty.

For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
John 20:9 RV