And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
So they went back home and got all the spices and oils ready to properly care for his body. But then they had to wait, the Sabbath was starting, and they weren't going to break that sacred day of rest.
Even in their grief, they honored God's rhythm of rest.
📚 Historical Context
In the Gospel of Luke, this verse describes the actions of the women followers of Jesus after his crucifixion, as they prepared spices and ointments to anoint his body following his burial. They had to pause their work and rest on the Sabbath day, which was a sacred observance commanded in the Old Testament, reflecting the strict Jewish customs of first-century Palestine where no labor was allowed from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset. This highlights the intersection of grief, devotion, and obedience to God's law in the midst of the events leading to Jesus' resurrection.
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