The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

Matthew 23:55. 56

I understand that when a Jew was buried, the body was treated tenderly.  I mean, a “good Jew.”  Jesus was killed as a bad man, a hoax. He did not deserve a proper burial!  The Jews and Romans made sure of that.

The women who loved Jesus and who were there to see him die did the next thing loving Jews do, anoint Jesus’ body with spices and oils set apart for that purpose.  Jesus was buried quickly with no preparation whatsoever.  These women saw that. They determined to anoint Jesus’ body as soon as the Sabbath was over.

In my mind’s eye I can see them, that night, bringing out those spices and ointments set apart for a burial.  They wanted to honor Jesus.  They were hoping to treat him with greatest respect by anointing his body, thus fulfilling their responsibility of love.  Jesus’ close friends simply deserted him.  We have no idea where they were.

It was the few women who loved Jesus!  I have no idea what was going through their minds as they, upon returning home, brought out what was typically used for a Jewish burial, spices and perfumes prepared specifically to anoint the corpse.  They lived in hope.  On the other hand the Jews were rejoicing in knowing that the imposter, Jesus of Nazareth, was dead, now in a stone tomb.  That is done!

The silence of the Sabbath lay heavily on the land.  For the rulers of the Jews and Rome, they found comfort in knowing that they need never deal with Jesus again.  For the believers, such as the women mentioned, they had no idea what was going to happen, but they were ready to know!