Station XIV Jesus is laid in the tomb

It was toward evening when Joseph of Arimathea arrived. He was a respected member of the Council, who was waiting for the coming of the Kingdom of God. It was Preparation day (that is, the day before the Sabbath), so Joseph went boldly into the presence of Pilate and asked him for the body of Jesus.  Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus was already dead. He called the army officer and asked him if Jesus had been dead a long time.  After hearing the officer’s report, Pilate told Joseph he could have the body.  Joseph bought a linen sheet, took the body down, wrapped it in the sheet, and placed it in a tomb which had been dug out of solid rock. Then he rolled a large stone across the entrance to the tomb.  Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph were watching and saw where the body of Jesus was placed.
 
Revelation 21:1-5
 
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the first earth disappeared, and the sea vanished. And I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared and ready, like a bride dressed to meet her husband.  I heard a loud voice speaking from the throne: “Now God’s home is with people! He will live with them, and they shall be his people. God himself will be with them, and he will be their God.  He will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more death, no more grief or crying or pain. The old things have disappeared.”

Then the one who sits on the throne said, “And now I make all things new!” He also said to me, “Write this, because these words are true and can be trusted.”

Prayer

Linen-wrapped
A body limp and dead
You lay entombed
And the stone sealed the entrance.
This dead time, this transition time,
A threshold from death to life renewed.
Silent God, let us not rush on to glory:
Help us linger with the knowledge
That this seeming defeat will vanquish the powers of destruction.
Help us hold on to hope and hear the whisper of love
Which will be born anew.
And let our waiting be active.
In the name of God, Creator, Redeemer 
and ever-present Spirit
Amen and amen.