“57When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: 58He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. 59And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. 61And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. 62Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, 63Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. 65Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. 66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.” (Matthew 27:57-66)
That evening, Joseph of Arimathea approaches Pilate and asks for his permission to bury Jesus. He and Nicodemus cover Jesus’ body with strips of linen and place him inside a cave adjacent to Golgotha. Mary Magdalene and Mary, mother of Jesus, sit beside the grave. Roman soldiers are sent to guard the tomb, at the behest of the Pharisees who fear that Jesus’ followers will steal his dead body. The priests are still full of doubts and negativity. Those who believe in Jesus accept the divine judgment and undertake the task of restoring harmony to the world.
Awe is the experience of perceiving the presence of the Creator; also known as “fear of God”, or reverence.
