The Empty Tomb
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could go and anoint the body of Jesus. Mark 16:1 · Berean Standard Bible
After the Sabbath is over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome buy spices to go anoint Jesus' body.
They're preparing for death, not resurrection. They bought burial spices because they expected to find a dead body. What they'll find instead will change everything.
Mark describes the women preparing to visit the tomb.
These devoted women couldn't even properly say goodbye on Friday because time ran out. Now, first chance they get, they go to honor the one they loved.
After the Sabbath ends (Saturday evening), three women, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, purchase aromata (spices/aromatics) to anoint Jesus' body.
The spice purchase indicates they expected to find a dead body and intended to complete the burial preparations that Friday's time constraints had prevented.
The narrator describes the women's preparation for visiting the tomb.
The women's purchase of burial spices shows they had no expectation of resurrection. They came to anoint a corpse, not to witness the greatest miracle in history.
1When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could go and anoint the body of Jesus.
2Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they went to the tomb.
3They were asking one another, “Who will roll away the stone from the entrance of the tomb?”
Read all of Mark 16 — Three women arrive at dawn expecting a corpse. They find a young man in white and a message that rewrites everything: he is risen.
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