JUNE 16, John 19:38-42

For the Jews, the dead were never to be cremated, but to be buried. To be cremated is to be burnt to ashes by fire. Those who were cremated were supposed to be those whose deeds were evil. God sent fire from heaven to burn them up. This happened to the wicked people in Sodom and Gomorrah. The cities were destroyed and all the people in them perished in the fire. Does it not give us an idea of how terrible the eternal lake of fire and hell will be?

Burials had to take place quickly because a dead body would decompose easily in the heat. In those days, the fridge was not invented yet. For the Jews, no matter how urgent it was for the body to be buried, they would not bury the dead on the Sabbath or on a holy day. For the burial, they would wash, wrap the body loosely in linen cloth and carry it to the burial place on a wooden stretcher. Wealthy people had their dead bandaged with spices between layers of linen.

The dead were buried in caves. Natural caves were widened and provided with niches or shelves where the bodies were laid. The mouth of the tomb was sealed with a huge stone or boulder blocking the passage to the burial chamber. This stone would have been extremely difficult to remove once it was in place. Burial caves were painted white as a warning to the living. Thus, it was indeed a miracle when the stone at the mouth of the Jesus’ tomb was rolled away. What a triumph it was when the women who went to His tomb that early morning heard the angel say, “He is not here; for he is risen”.

Complete this outline drawing of the cave where Jesus was buried and with the stone rolled away.

Thought: All Christians need not fear death because of Jesus!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that Jesus is my risen Saviour. I pray I will continue to keep close to Him, and to daily read the Word, so I can learn how to be a better disciple of Christ. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.