As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb. - Matthew 27:57-61

Dear Jesus, your friends and faithful followers respected your body and placed it in their own space. Their hearts were breaking. Now here we are 2000 years later respecting your resurrection. We celebrate it with special services on the day commemorating the day that you burst open the tomb and restored hope and joy to all humanity. No matter what our disappointments in life, no matter what our medical prognosis, your resurrection gives us hope and joy. Help your Christians everywhere to live in Easter joy no matter what is going on in their lives. Shield them from the heat of day in the shadow of your cross and heat up their cold winter nights with the sunshine from your empty tomb. AMEN

It is through the foolishness of preaching Christ crucified and arisen that people are rescued for eternity.

Additional Readings: Matthew 27:62-66, 28:1-10, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31