It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

Luke 23: 54

The Leaders of the Jews were happy – the dirty work was done.  They convinced the Romans to kill Jesus as a common criminal.  They hung him on the dreaded Roman cross and made sure he was dead after six hours of derision and scorn.  Then all left the scene, including Joseph who took the body of Jesus away and placed it in his own newly prepared tomb.

Now, the rulers of the Jews breathed easily, because all was done before the holy Sabbath Day.  The Romans did exactly what the rulers had hoped!  They had done their duty, made sure Jesus was killed!  That was done.  It was not lawful to crucify a person on the Sabbath!

Now they could enjoy the Sabbath!  They had succeeded in getting rid of Jesus of Nazareth.

Sabbath morn dawned.  The Jewish elders led the nation in the ancient rituals.  They did not give a thought to the fact that all of those rituals pointed to the coming of the Messiah to save them.  No, they killed Jesus, the Messiah.  He is now dead, lifeless, his body in a cold tomb.

Is this not what is happening now?  For the non-repentant sinner the thing to celebrate is that Jesus has no meaning at all for them, they have in a real sense, killed him.  For those of us who bow the neck and believe, Jesus makes all the difference!  We do not condemn unbelievers, we have love and compassion for them because God in his mercy showed us Jesus in our time of need and we welcomed Him as Lord and Savior.  We are debtors to grace.