The Sabbath lasted from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday. Jesus has been in the tomb from late Friday afternoon and throughout all of Saturday and Saturday night. It is now Sunday morning.

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. – Mark 16:1

Joseph of Arimathea has already anointed Jesus’ body with spices and buried him. However, the two women whom Mark named as being at the cross also want to demonstrate their devotion to Jesus. So on Saturday evening, they also buy spices to anoint Jesus’ body themselves. However, these women, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, and Salome aren’t the only ones.

They are likely named as the leaders of the women who plan to honour Jesus in this way. But it’s too dark to try to visit the tomb, so after a day spent in deepest mourning, they go to spend a sleepless night to await the dawn. On Saturday night the women had bought spices to anoint Christ’s body the following day. This was an act of devotion that came from good and loving intentions. However, the women had prepared for something that Christ’s resurrection would render unnecessary.

In our lives, we worry and are anxious with many things that need not concern us any longer, because Christ has died for sin, and he is risen! So, take stock of your life. Are you spending your emotional and physical resources, like these women did, on what the Cross has rendered unnecessary?

Listen to the Podcast here