Today’s passage is Luke 23:44-56. From noon to three there is darkness, the veil in the temple is torn in half, and Jesus dies, committing his Spirit to the Father. The crowd leaves. Joseph of Arimathea takes the body and lays it in a new tomb. The Galilean women prepare spices and rest on the Sabbath.
Why do the crowd beat their breasts?
Why did Pilate let Joseph of Arimathea take Jesus’ body?
“Waiting for the Kingdom”(51)
When I look at my life, I’m surprised at how much is been spent in waiting.
I wait for people to get ready.
I wait for buses, subways, trains and planes.
I wait to depart and I wait to arrive. I wait for my turn to go to the toilet.
I wait for my monthly pay.
I wait for my meals.
I waited till I could drive a car, to kiss my girlfriend, to get a job, to get married.
Always I wait before I can act.
In today’s passage the crowd waits for Jesus to die or do something miraculous.
The land is shrouded in darkness, expectation is high.
Then, confirming his relationship to the Father, he dies.
The crowd grieves, beating their breasts in anguished disappointment, and leaves.
Those closer to Jesus continue to wait.
Joseph of Arimathea, who waited for the kingdom of God, puts Jesus’ body in a new tomb.
Everyone waits during the Sabbath.
What am I waiting for? I’m waiting to go to heaven.
That’s my big wait. While I wait, I have smaller waits.
I wait for my prayers to be answered.
I wait for the Spirit to show me my sins, so I can repent.
I wait for understanding. In my waiting I learn to serve God.
Application: to focus on waiting today, not acting; to pray for right action from previous waiting.
Lord, let me wait with expectation of your resurrection in my life.
