The Day of Preparation - Luke 23:54

Luke the beloved physician wrote how, “there was a man named Joseph, a counselor; and he was a good man, and a just. (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulcher that was hewn in stone,wherein never man before was laid”, and in chapter twenty-three and verse fifty-four of his book Luke shared how, “that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on” where we read:

And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

The verse reads, “And that day was the preparation, ...” Luke began with the words, “And that day” or “and the sunrise to sunset in which Joseph buried Jesus” “was the preparation” which means “existed as the time of making ready, equipping and getting ready of the things which were necessary to celebrate a sabbath or feast”. Luke shared how the “day” Jesus was buried by Joseph was the “day” in which people prepared for the “sabbath day” feast.

The verse goes on to say, “... and the sabbath drew on.” Luke continued with the words, “and the sabbath” which means “and the seventh day of each week which was a sacred festival on which the Israelites were required to abstain from all work” “drew on” or “began to grow light and dawn”. Luke shared how the “sabbath day” of rest was growing closer and closer to the “dawning” morning.

When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn the timing of the burial of Jesus by Joseph. This was “Friday” before the “sabbath” day, and people were preparing for the “Sabbath day” feast. We should remember the Jewish day begins at six o'clock in the evening, and Jesus died the previous day, “Thursday” at three in the afternoon. Jesus was not to hang on the cross for another day, so He was placed in a tomb by Joseph, and time was moving forward. Each of these details were important in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus because they pointed to Him being the “Messiah and Savior” of mankind. God loves everyone, and His desire is to have a personal relationship with them through His Son Jesus. Those who study these details shall discover to what great lengths He went to forgive their sins and receive everlasting life with Him. Let all who read believe.

Next time Luke shares how, “the women also … followed after, and beheld the sepulcher, and how his body was laid”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".