Mark 16:1-2
When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The women acted out of deep love, preparing spices to anoint Jesus' body. However, despite Jesus foretelling His resurrection, their intention to anoint Him reveals a heartbreaking lack of belief that He would rise again.
The Sabbath has just ended, and a group of devoted women, led by Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, are heading to Jesus' tomb. They had prepared spices the day before, recognizing that the hurried burial meant the full rites couldn't be performed until after the Sabbath restrictions were lifted, driven by their deep affection and grief. Their intention is to complete the anointing of Jesus' body, unaware that their Lord has already risen.
The women showed up to the tomb ready to serve, but why the rush to buy spices?
Imagine the scene: the Sabbath has just ended, and the first hint of dawn is breaking. These faithful women, led by Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, are not waiting around. They've already gathered spices – likely on Friday evening right after Jesus was laid in the tomb (Luke 23:56).
The Urgency of Love
But here in Mark, they bought spices. This suggests they might have needed more, or perhaps they finalized their purchase after the Sabbath. The Gospels paint a picture of hurried preparations following Jesus' death. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea embalmed Him hastily due to the approaching Sabbath (John 19:39-40). These women, driven by profound love and grief, wanted to complete the task, to honor their Lord with proper burial rites. Their actions reveal a deep affection, even if their understanding of His resurrection was, at this point, still clouded.
They came to anoint a body, but Jesus was about to show them He was alive. What does this reveal about their faith?
It's easy to read this and think, 'Of course they wanted to anoint Him!' But let's look closer. Jesus had told His disciples repeatedly about His coming death and resurrection (Mark 8:31, 9:31, 10:34). Yet, when the Sabbath passed and these women headed to the tomb, their focus was on embalming a dead body.
Love, Not Yet Faith
Their actions, while full of love and devotion, suggest a profound lack of faith in His resurrection. They weren't going to the tomb expecting to find it empty or to meet a living Savior. Instead, they were acting out of love for the deceased Jesus, perhaps to 'strew the sepulchre with spices' as one commentator put it, to give His resting place a sweet perfume. This incredible contrast between their loving, yet ultimately mistaken, mission and the glorious reality about to unfold is a powerful testament to God's grace working even when our understanding is incomplete.
Understand the original words
shabbath · Hebrew Noun
The seventh day of the Jewish week, set apart by God in the Decalogue as a day of rest and holiness, commemorating God's creation and deliverance from Egypt. In the New Testament, it marks the end of the old covenant order before the resurrection of Christ.
arōma · Greek Noun
Aromatic substances used in antiquity for burials to mask the odor of decay and as a mark of honor for the deceased. In this context, they signify the women's devotion and their expectation of finding a dead body.
aleiphō · Greek Verb
To smear or rub with oil or ointment. Biblically, it was a common practice for burial, but also a ritual act for setting apart kings, priests, and prophets for divine service.
mnēmeion · Greek Noun
The timing of this verse highlights the tension between the women's deep love and desire to honor Jesus, even in death, and their adherence to the Sabbath laws, showing how deeply ingrained Jewish customs were in their lives, even in their grief.
Friday evening, c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus' Burial and Sabbath Preparation
Following Jesus' crucifixion, his body was hastily placed in a tomb by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. The women, including Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, observed this and then purchased spices and perfumes to properly prepare his body after the Sabbath.
Saturday, c. AD 30
The Sabbath Day
Jewish law prohibited work on the Sabbath. The women observed this day of rest, refraining from their intended task of anointing Jesus' body.
Saturday sunset to Sunday dawn, c. AD 30
Transition to the First Day of the Week
As the Sabbath ended at sunset on Saturday and the new day, the first day of the week, began, the women could resume their preparations. This marked the transition from mourning and rest to action.
Sunday morning, c. AD 30
Visit to the Empty Tomb
Very early on Sunday morning, the women arrived at the tomb with their spices, only to find the stone rolled away and the tomb empty.
This passage shows the women preparing spices *before* the Sabbath, highlighting the urgency and haste with which Jesus' body was laid in the tomb and the continuity of their loving devotion.
This account details Nicodemus bringing spices and linen, which shows that *some* embalming preparation had already occurred, emphasizing that the women's subsequent actions were a further act of love and care, not a completion of the initial burial rites.
Matthew 28:1This passage corroborates Mark's account of the women coming to the tomb after the Sabbath, providing a parallel perspective on the exact timing and the individuals involved.
John 20:1-2This Gospel specifically records Mary Magdalene's solitary action of running to tell Peter and John after seeing the empty tomb, adding a layer to the narrative of her immediate, urgent reaction.
Luke 24:1-3This account also describes the women arriving at the tomb early on the first day of the week with spices, but it adds the detail of their initial question about who would roll away the stone, revealing their concerns and expectations.
wesleyMark 16:1: "And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him."
16:1 Mt 28:1; Lu 24:1; John 20:1.
gillMark 16:1: "And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him."
And when the sabbath was past,.... "In the end of it", as Matthew says, Matthew 28:1 ; not "when it was the sabbath", as the Arabic version reads; for it was not lawful to buy spices, and anoint with on the sabbath day; See Gill on Matthew 28:1 . Mary Magdalene, and Mary, the mother of James, and Salome; who was the wife of Zebedee,…
The women acted out of deep love, preparing spices to anoint Jesus' body. However, despite Jesus foretelling His resurrection, their intention to anoint Him reveals a heartbreaking lack of belief that He would rise again.
The Sabbath has just ended, and a group of devoted women, led by Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, are heading to Jesus' tomb. They had prepared spices the day before, recognizing that the hurried burial meant the full rites couldn't be performed until after the Sabbath restrictions were lifted, driven by their deep affection and grief. Their intention is to complete the anointing of Jesus' body, unaware that their Lord has already risen.
The Sabbath has just ended, and a group of devoted women, led by Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, are heading to Jesus' tomb. They had prepared spices the day before, recognizing that the hurried burial meant the full rites couldn't be performed until after the Sabbath restrictions were lifted, driven by their deep affection and grief. Their intention is to complete the anointing of Jesus' body, unaware that their Lord has already risen.
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A place of burial; a grave. In the Gospels, it refers to a rock-hewn chamber where the body of Jesus was placed, serving as the site of his death and subsequent resurrection.
"When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb." — The women acted out of deep love, preparing spices to anoint Jesus' body. However, despite Jesus foretelling His resurrection, their intention to anoint Him reveals a heartbreaking lack of belief tha…
