23: The Women Rest on the Sabbath Before Jesus’ Resurrection

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  • Luke 23:54–56
  • Matthew 27:62–66
  • Mark 16:1
  • John 19:31–42

Theme: Obedience, Expectation, and the Sabbath Between the Cross and Resurrection

1. Introduction

Following the crucifixion of Jesus, His disciples and the women who followed Him are faced with the Sabbath immediately after the darkest day in history. Luke 23:54–56 succinctly records that they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment, marking a moment of obedience, mourning, and silence. This Sabbath is theologically significant as it symbolises the pause between the work of redemption completed on the cross and the dawning of new creation in the resurrection.

2. Biblical Text and Summary

📖 Luke 23:54–56 (NKJV)

“That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near. And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.”

📖 Matthew 27:62–64

The chief priests and Pharisees, however, secured the tomb on the Sabbath, fearing that the disciples might steal the body.

📖 John 19:31 (NKJV)

“Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day)…”

3. Context and Background

  • The “Preparation Day” (paraskeuē, Greek) refers to Friday, the day before the Sabbath.
  • The women from Galilee had followed Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus as they buried Jesus’ body hastily before sundown.
  • With burial customs incomplete, they planned to return after the Sabbath to finish the anointing (Mark 16:1).

The “high Sabbath” mentioned in John 19:31 indicates this Sabbath coincided with the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, amplifying its significance.

4. Theological Themes

A. Obedience in Grief

“They rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.” (Luke 23:56)

Despite their sorrow and desire to tend to Jesus’ body, the women demonstrate faithful obedience to God’s law. Their rest embodies:

  • Trust in God’s purposes even in the face of despair.
  • Recognition that God is still sovereign on the darkest days.

B. The Great Sabbath Rest of Redemption

Jesus’ death on the cross (“It is finished,” John 19:30) precedes this Sabbath. Theologically, this mirrors:

  • Creation rest (Genesis 2:2–3): God ceased from His creative work.
  • Redemptive rest: Jesus, having completed the work of salvation, now “rests” in the tomb.
  • This Sabbath anticipates the dawn of new creation on Resurrection morning.

C. Contrast of Actions

While the women rest, the chief priests and Pharisees are active:

  • They break the spirit of the Sabbath by plotting and securing the tomb (Matthew 27:62–66).
  • This highlights the difference between obedient trust and fear-driven control.

5. Spiritual and Discipleship Implications

This Sabbath invites believers to:

  • Learn to rest in God’s finished work, even when circumstances seem bleak.
  • Understand that silence and waiting are often part of God’s redemptive plan.
  • Recognise that the Sabbath points beyond itself to the eternal rest secured by Christ (Hebrews 4:9–11).

6. Scholarly Perspectives

  • Raymond Brown calls this “the quietest moment of salvation history,” when heaven and earth waited for the resurrection.
  • D.A. Carson observes the deliberate parallel with creation: “As God rested after creation, so the Son rested after redemption.”
  • N.T. Wright notes that the women’s Sabbath obedience models “faithful, patient hope in the face of unanswered questions.”

7. New Testament Reflection

The Sabbath between the cross and resurrection becomes a liminal moment:

  • It stands between the end of the old covenant and the inauguration of the new.
  • Believers are reminded that the work of salvation is entirely God’s, and our role is to rest in it.
  • The resurrection on the first day of the week (Sunday) later shapes the Christian practice of gathering on the “Lord’s Day” (Revelation 1:10).

8. Conclusion

The women’s obedience in resting on the Sabbath, even amid heartbreak, becomes a profound testimony of faith. This “great Sabbath” symbolises the completion of Jesus’ redemptive work and sets the stage for the eternal rest and joy of His resurrection. It reminds believers that when all seems silent, God is still at work, and His promises will be fulfilled.

9. Cross-References

  • Genesis 2:2–3 – God’s rest after creation
  • Exodus 20:8–11 – The Sabbath commandment
  • John 19:30–31 – Jesus declares “It is finished” and is buried before the high Sabbath
  • Hebrews 4:9–11 – Entering God’s Sabbath rest
  • Revelation 1:10 – The Lord’s Day and new creation worship
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