The Hope of Easter: Finding Clarity in Confusing TimesSample

Day 6: The Burial: Hope in Waiting

Matthew 27:57-61 says, As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who had become a follower of Jesus, went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth. He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left. Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb and watching.

Although a criminal’s body was typically left to decay in Roman culture, burial customs were taken seriously under Jewish law. Joseph knew what he had to do while waiting: take action. Jesus was placed in Joseph's new tomb with clean linen to represent his innocence. Joseph had the resources and strength to take the necessary next steps in this miracle story. God knew who he was calling to act.

God calls some of us to act while in the waiting, but he also may call us to be quiet. The Marys sat there and watched; some mourned, others were now convinced Jesus was the true son of God. How we react to the waiting needs to be dependent on God’s prompting. Being still is not being lazy, taking action is not self-centered, and seeing God’s miracle in the waiting is not naive.

We can not dismiss the waiting season as a waste of time; it is quite the opposite. There is so much hope in waiting because we have yet to see the end result. Anticipating what God will do can deepen your trust. Listen to his prompting and be obedient to the part of the miracle you are playing.