Reflections: What were they thinking?

8.23 Reflections: Mark 15:42-47

It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

After having thrown their lives and having followed a man preaching himself to be the son of God, what thoughts must have crossed the minds of the disciples when Jesus had finally passed away? What was Joseph of Arimathea thinking when he was asking for the body of Jesus? Did anyone really believe that Jesus would rise again after three days? Was it simply out of pity to have cared for the body?