Matthew 27:61Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This particular Friday evening was highly regarded by the Jewish people, as it signified both the prelude to the Sabbath and the observance of Passover, marking the time when the Passover meal would be consumed. The women observed a day of rest on the Sabbath as mandated by the Law, adhering to their customs. However, on Sunday, they planned to visit the grave, which they accomplished as will be detailed later. At that point, their understanding of the Resurrection was limited, leading them to expect only to find the body of their Lord.

In contrast, the faithful women remained steadfast, even amid the terrors of death. They trailed Him to Golgotha, their path soaked with tears of empathy; they stood by their beloved Master, some observing His agonies from a distance, while others stationed themselves at the very cross. Neither the fury of the crowd, the malice of the scribes and Pharisees, nor the audacity of the soldiers could deter them from their divine Teacher. Afterwards, they noted where He was laid and positioned themselves in front of the tomb.

This plan was embraced by Joseph, who possessed abundant resources and deep affection for Jesus, able to fill the cave with perfumes, yet he did not wish to impede the sincere devotion of those less fortunate, yet equally appreciative of Jesus’s memory. Once the burial was completed, all who assisted departed, but the holy women found it difficult to leave the precious coffin containing their beloved Master. Only as the sun dipped behind the Judean mountains, and the hour to close the gates of Jerusalem approached, did they reluctantly exit the sacred tomb and the garden belonging to Joseph of Arimathea, their hearts heavy with sorrow. Yet what was their grief compared to the anguish of the Virgin, the Mother of our Lord? At that moment, the sharp sword foretold by the righteous Simeon pierced her compassionate heart and holy soul. All her thoughts and emotions were consumed by the profound loss of her Divine Son, and her tears flowed ceaselessly. Undoubtedly, her maternal sorrow resonated with the holy women and the disciples of Christ. The Holy Church poignantly portrays the lamentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Christ's burial in the hymns of Great Friday. Yet, these hymns also express how Our Lord, who died and was entombed in the flesh, as immortal and omnipresent in His divinity, noticed the grief of His Immaculate Mother and intriguingly conveyed to her mourning heart: “Weep not for me, O Mother, seeing me in the tomb, whose Son thou didst conceive in the womb without seed: but I will arise and be glorified and exalted with glory continually as God, by faith and love to those who magnify Thee! ... Though I would save My creature, I will die...” (Canon on the Lamentations of the Most Holy Theotokos). As we contemplate the burial of the Lord Jesus Christ, reverent interpreters of Scripture reflect on various thoughts: “Ashes you are and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19), this was spoken to fallen Adam; thus, the second Adam too needed, if only for a brief time, to be buried within the earth, taking refuge in its depths. In this way, through His burial, He remained within the heart of the earth as the second Adam. It was essential for Him to undergo burial to further confirm the reality of His death. This burial was vital so that He might infuse our tombs with the vitality and power from His life-giving grave, providing resurrection and life for those entombed. The Lord’s resting in the tomb was necessary to diminish, to the greatest extent possible, the dread and darkness associated with our tombs, allowing the faithful soul to confidently proclaim, “If I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me” (Psalm 22:4). The Lord’s burial was also necessary to sanctify our graves and our resting places, as well as to consecrate the very depths of the earth. According to the physical body, it was important for Him to be buried in proportion to the descent of His soul into hell. Our spiritual Sun entered the tomb, yet it was not extinguished, only concealed for a time, to rise anew in the realm of the departed souls and illuminate them with the light of faith, guiding them into the kingdom of light. Thus, in His great mercy, He loved us so profoundly that He not only descended from heaven to earth, ascended the cross, and entered into the earth, but also descended into hell for our salvation.

This sorrow was intensified by the nagging reproaches of their own consciences. Each disciple grappled with the reality that they had lost everything through their connection to Jesus. All visions of the glorious Messiah’s reign crumbled before their eyes. They were left in a dire confusion, uncertain of how to escape their plight. Their faith in Jesus, once vibrant and full of hope, was now overshadowed, stripping them of the miraculous abilities that faith had once bestowed. They felt a void; there was no courage in their hearts, no miracle-working power in their hands, no support from influential allies, and no resources to procure their salvation—everything had been taken to the tomb by their Master. There was little expectation of kindness from their fellow countrymen, as they recognized their own fate mirrored His. Having shared close fellowship with their Divine Teacher, they had nurtured a sincere love for Him. How could they not cherish Him? He loved them with such fervor! His kindness was boundless! He imparted life-giving lessons and shielded them from His adversaries (Matthew 12:2, 3, etc.). He tended to them even in the shadow of His own suffering (Lk. 22:36, 31, 32. Jn. 13:18,19; 18:8, 9-11)! Who could hold love equal to theirs in response to His? To be unfeeling toward Him would be to display a heart colder than stone. To His disciples, He revealed profound mysteries; He treated them as beloved friends. And now, with Jesus gone, could they truly face the reflection of their actions towards Him? Each must grapple with the notion: I remained faithful, Divine Teacher, until Your final hour, sharing in all with You, only to have some unforeseen force wrench You away from us. Conversely, their consciences reminded them: you were unworthy for Him to remain with you forever. They recalled vividly the torments He endured on that final night of His presence among them: when He foretold that one would deny Him thrice, they all protested, “No, it cannot be!” (Matthew 26:35). How would they behave when Jesus was taken away? They were ready to relinquish all they had, letting go even their last garments, just to be free of His captors (Mark 14:51). As He sought to bring them close to share in the heavy burden of the impending suffering, they grew less able to engage. He asked them to pray alongside Him, yet they succumbed to sleep. He sought to convey the gravity of the moments ahead, but they remained oblivious (Luke 22). He foretold the intense suffering He would soon face, but they squabbled over which of them would hold the highest position in the heavenly realm. Ultimately, was it not a member of this very group who betrayed Him? All comfort and hope dissipated among the followers of Jesus in the wake of their Master’s loss, particularly in the hours following the harrowing events on Golgotha (Mark 16:10). The moment Jesus had warned them about at the Last Supper had arrived: you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices (John 16:20); you will search for Me, but cannot follow Me where I am going (John 13:33). Gradually, they began to gather again, yet their grief persisted whether they were together or alone. Those who had been close to Jesus shared in their sorrow, especially His Blessed Mother, who, witnessing His crucifixion, mourned deeply for the suffering of her beloved Son. The prophecy of Simeon rang true for her: a sword would pierce her soul. Every drop of Jesus’ blood weighed heavily on her heart. The humiliation and shame He faced as He was counted among the wicked was particularly poignant for her, as she had known from before His birth that He was the Son of God, and had anticipated that all generations would honor her through Him. Even while His own afflictions consumed Him, He found a way to shield His mother from witnessing His ultimate suffering, yet this gesture did little to ease her heartache. The mother of the apostles James and Judas, along with Salome—the mother of the other two apostles, James and John—likely gathered with the Blessed Virgin at John’s home in Jerusalem, collectively shedding tears. Those who had witnessed Jesus’ passions returned from the disgraceful scene, overwhelmed with grief: what torment must have filled the hearts of women bound to Him by blood, love, and high hopes? Among them was Mary Magdalene, whose fiery, loving spirit called Jesus her Lord and Healer; she stood at the foot of the cross alongside His Mother (John). The sisters of Lazarus, having returned their brother to life only to witness this fateful dispensation, and Joseph and Nicodemus—who had hidden their -relationship with Jesus—came forward, seeking to pay their final respects to the forsaken One. In essence, all who had known Jesus, each within their own measure, were enveloped in the profound sadness that had taken hold of the apostles.

Only a few eyes linger sorrowfully on the body of the Dead One, and a handful of hearts race in anticipation of Joseph’s return. Standing nearby are Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the less and Josiah, along with other devoted women from Galilee (Mt 27:55-56, 61; Mk 15:40-41, 47). Also waiting is the beloved disciple and the blessed Mother, entrusted to him by her Son. Lastly, there stands another secret follower of the Lord, Nicodemus, who had previously visited Jesus under the cover of night.

Following the burial, both the mourners and witnesses hurried home to prepare for the approaching Sabbath, which coincided with the Passover celebration. However, this sacred feast, which commemorated God's miraculous deliverance of their ancestors from Egypt, weighed heavily on the hearts of the faithful, reminding them of their profound loss. Joseph and Nicodemus carried sorrow within them for the one whom they had venerated. Their grief was intensified by witnessing the ordeal and brutal death of Jesus Christ, who suffered innocently, having committed no sin (1 Pet. 2:22). In this deep anguish, their acts of love and remembrance for the Divine sufferer provided some solace. Internally, they may have experienced a sense of fulfillment after their virtuous efforts. The closest disciples of the Lord, who had faithfully witnessed His miracles and teachings, were now retreating in fear of Jewish authorities (John 20:19), grappling with the shocking reality of that dreadful day. The one they had believed to be an omnipotent miracle worker had succumbed to a disgraceful death. All their hopes of earthly glory for Him and themselves were extinguished, replaced by a lingering emptiness. The travelers from Emmaus surely pondered, “We had hoped that He was the one to redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21). The comforting promises of the Lord about His resurrection and the assurance of a reunion expressed during the Last Supper appeared to conflict starkly with the grim reality, muffling their hearts under the weight of current despair. Disregarding the thoughts of resurrection or interpreting His predictions as Martha had understood them regarding the general resurrection at the end of time (John 11:24), the disciples found no solace in their memories; instead, they faced new fears, convinced that the malevolent enemies of Christ, after eliminating the despised Prophet of Galilee, would not spare His followers. The women, having observed where the body of Jesus was laid, returned from the tomb, eager to fulfill their intentions. They purchased fragrant oils and prepared spices for a fresh anointing of Christ’s body, driven by their boundless love, believing that their tribute was insufficient and that their zeal could offer him further honor. But what can compare the grief of these devoted souls to the sorrow of His Holy Mother? According to Simeon's prophecy (Luke 2:35), a sword of anguish pierced Her soul; She was bereft of all that was most precious to Her. Every thought and feeling of Her pure heart revolved around the grievous loss, as tears of sorrow streamed from Her eyes. The Holy Church, in its hymns, vividly expresses the lament of the most Honorable Cherubim and the most radiant Seraphim over the tomb of Her Son and Lord. ‘Where, my Son and God, is the promise given to me by Gabriel? You are called King, Son, and God Most High; yet now I see you, my beloved light, stripped and lifeless.’ ‘Behold, my beloved light, my hope, and my life—my God has died upon the cross.’ ‘I think, O Lord, that I will no longer hear your sweet voice or behold the kindness of your face, as I did before, your servant: for you have departed from my sight.’ ‘Now my expectations of joy and gladness, my Son and Lord, are dashed; woe is me, for my heart is heavy.’ ‘I have only hope and life, my Son and God, in the light of your servant, yet now I am deprived of you, my beloved child.’ ‘Sickness, sorrow, and lamentation have overtaken Me; woe is me, seeing you, My treasured child, stripped of life, solitary, and clinging to the odor of death.’ ‘When I behold you lifeless, O Loving One, who brings the dead to life and holds all creation, my heart is wounded; I wish to die with you, for I cannot bear to witness you dead and without breath.’ ‘My light and my joy have been laid in the tomb, yet I shall not abandon Him; there I shall die and be laid to rest.’ ‘He who wipes away sickness, take me with you, my Son and God, do not leave me alone; I cannot endure the thought of living without seeing you, my cherished light.’ The God-Man, who died and was buried in the flesh but encompasses all things by His divinity, heard the lamentations of His Immaculate Mother and spoke to her heart in a mysterious manner: ‘Do not weep for Me, O Mother, for in that womb, where you conceived without seed, I will rise again, and I will be glorified, exalting those who honor you without ceasing, as God, through faith and love. ‘Oh, how great is the bounty hidden from you! Although I save My creation, I will die, yet I shall rise again and glorify you, as the God of heaven and earth.’