Slices
Prepare
What has been your experience of grief and loss? Think how the disciples must be feeling as Jesus is buried and their hopes have evaporated. Perhaps they feel lost, disappointed, bewildered and confused. What do you think?
Bible passage
The burial of Jesus
57 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
The guard at the tomb
62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, “After three days I will rise again.” 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.’
65 ‘Take a guard,’ Pilate answered. ‘Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.’ 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.
Explore
Joseph, until now a hidden disciple, shows tremendous courage in going to Pilate and asking for Jesus’ body (v 58). He also shows great tenderness in how he prepares it for burial, and amazing generosity in using his own newly carved rock tomb (v 60) as the burial place. Adversity often brings out the best in people, and when other more prominent followers are nowhere to be seen, it is Joseph who steps forward to care for the Master’s body. But, like the two women watching, he has no expectation that Jesus will rise again.
The religious leaders are concerned that the disciples are going to come and steal the body of Jesus and thus it would appear he has risen from the dead, and so they take precautions to make sure this does not happen (vs 62– 66). The tomb is closed off by a large stone, the entrance sealed and a guard posted to protect it. Jesus is dead and buried. He will trouble them no more. But then, maybe he will…
Respond
For the followers of Jesus, this must have been a difficult moment, full of grief, sadness and disappointment. Take a moment to pray for all who are in a similar place of uncertainty, patiently waiting for God to act.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Joshua 8,9; Romans 12
Pray for Scripture Union
The Mission Through Sports team is stepping into an exciting season of growth. Pray for Team Leader Mark Oliver as he carries the responsibility of ensuring new team members are effectively brought on board and are ready to help more churches use sport and physical activity to reveal Jesus.
Equipping the church to reach the next generation
Across England and Wales, increasing numbers of children and young people are asking big questions about life, faith and meaning. Many are more open than we might assume – curious, thoughtful, and ready for conversations about Jesus, even when church isn’t part of their everyday world. For churches who have a heart for the next generation, this presents a real and hopeful opportunity.
Many leaders carry a deep desire to help the next generation encounter Jesus, but with full diaries and many responsibilities, knowing how to respond – or where to begin – can feel uncertain. That’s why we’ve created the It’s Time to Act guide.
It’s a simple, encouraging resource designed to help churches take thoughtful, realistic steps towards revealing Jesus to the next generation. Rather than offering big programmes or quick fixes, the guide focuses on what’s possible now – small, achievable actions that can grow over time. Inside, you’ll find practical ideas shaped by real church life that work alongside busy schedules and varied contexts. So, whether your church is just beginning to explore this opportunity, or already taking steps, the guide aims to meet you where you are and help you discern what comes next.
Our hope is that It’s Time to Act feels less like another initiative, and more like an invitation – to notice where God is already at work, and to take a next step, one step at a time.
If you’d like to explore the guide and see whether it could support your church, you can order a copy here.
