Matthew 27:57,58

Matthew 27:57,58 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. Joseph of Arimathaea was a secret believer in Jesus. He was a member of the Jewish senate called the Sanhedrin, along with Nicodemus. When Jesus was finally dead, they stepped forward and requested the body of Jesus. They had been too timid while Jesus was alive, but were determined to stand up for Jesus after He was dead. Joseph, Nicodemus, and the ladies put Jesus’ body in the tomb Friday afternoon. But on Saturday, the Jewish leaders paid a visit to Pilate. They demanded a guard to be set. They remembered that Jesus had promised to come alive on the third day. They wanted to secure the tomb so that nothing out of the ordinary could happen. So Pilate gave them the guards. And so they all waited. And then came the third day: Sunday morning. That is Easter Sunday morning. But something very out of the ordinary did happen. And that is the best part of the story.