Luke 23:50-56 NIV
People of every time and place have had their own traditions or rites for burial of a body. In 480 BC, King Leonidas and 300 of his men stood in a mountain pass, stripped naked, cleansing themselves, and anointing themselves with oil. The Greeks were preparing their bodies for death as the 300 of them, along with some 700 Thespians and 900 Helots, were about to be attacked by the Persian Army, which, according to Herodotus, was 2 million strong. Death was inevitable for Leonidas and his troops. Their bodies would probably never be recovered by family or friends to be properly buried so they prepared their own bodies for death prior to the battle.
The death of Jesus came fast. No one could have expected it; after all, not even a week before the people were celebrating as he triumphantly entered the city. Mary anointed his feet with oil in that last week. The disciples, particularly Judas who betrayed him, complained about the waste. But, Jesus had told them: "Leave her alone. It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial." (John 12:7)
Jesus died in the afternoon and the body had to be taken away before the sun set as the Sabbath began then. No one had planned for his death. There certainly had been no time to prepare for it. What to do? Where to place the body? What could his mother, a mere woman who had just seen her beloved son executed, do at such a time like this? What about the disciples? Had they already gone into hiding? So, Joseph, a member of the council, who had hope in the Kingdom of God, asked Pilate for permission to take Jesus' body off of the cross. He wrapped it in linens and placed it in a tomb that had never been used before.
Today our traditions vary. Traditions have been created out of love and respect for those who have died. Often, we've figured out the where, who, what years before our own death with pre-paid funeral plans. We now have embalming rather than anointing with spices and oils. Many Christians are opting for cremation. I am often asked about whether cremation is even something a Christian should even consider as we anticipate a resurrection from the grave. My response is that these old traditions are just that - traditions. We are saved by faith, our manner of burial will not matter. And... since God created us once from the dust of the earth; He can certainly bring us back from the dust, again.
God's Peace - Pr. J.
People of every time and place have had their own traditions or rites for burial of a body. In 480 BC, King Leonidas and 300 of his men stood in a mountain pass, stripped naked, cleansing themselves, and anointing themselves with oil. The Greeks were preparing their bodies for death as the 300 of them, along with some 700 Thespians and 900 Helots, were about to be attacked by the Persian Army, which, according to Herodotus, was 2 million strong. Death was inevitable for Leonidas and his troops. Their bodies would probably never be recovered by family or friends to be properly buried so they prepared their own bodies for death prior to the battle.
The death of Jesus came fast. No one could have expected it; after all, not even a week before the people were celebrating as he triumphantly entered the city. Mary anointed his feet with oil in that last week. The disciples, particularly Judas who betrayed him, complained about the waste. But, Jesus had told them: "Leave her alone. It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial." (John 12:7)
Jesus died in the afternoon and the body had to be taken away before the sun set as the Sabbath began then. No one had planned for his death. There certainly had been no time to prepare for it. What to do? Where to place the body? What could his mother, a mere woman who had just seen her beloved son executed, do at such a time like this? What about the disciples? Had they already gone into hiding? So, Joseph, a member of the council, who had hope in the Kingdom of God, asked Pilate for permission to take Jesus' body off of the cross. He wrapped it in linens and placed it in a tomb that had never been used before.
Today our traditions vary. Traditions have been created out of love and respect for those who have died. Often, we've figured out the where, who, what years before our own death with pre-paid funeral plans. We now have embalming rather than anointing with spices and oils. Many Christians are opting for cremation. I am often asked about whether cremation is even something a Christian should even consider as we anticipate a resurrection from the grave. My response is that these old traditions are just that - traditions. We are saved by faith, our manner of burial will not matter. And... since God created us once from the dust of the earth; He can certainly bring us back from the dust, again.
God's Peace - Pr. J.
