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It was Friday afternoon, the crowds had returned to the city leaving the three crucified bodies a deterrent to all. Joseph of Arimathea went quickly to Pilate, and though fearful of what the Roman could yet do, he asked for permission to take care of the body of Jesus. This being granted, he quickly purchased a large quantity of white linen in which to wrap the corpse of Christ. At the same moment in another part of the city, Nicodemus the Pharisee, who also loved Jesus, was purchasing a large amount of myrrh and aloes, about 70 pounds in weight, which he would use with Joseph to help bury the Messiah. They took the body down from the cross, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were with them. At the tomb, which Joseph had purchased for his own family but now would be forever denied to him, they entered and began the task of wrapping the seventy pounds of myrrh and aloes into the wraps of linen. Around and around the body they wrapped until all was used, and like a great cocoon, they placed the bundled body into the carved recession in the center of the floor. They picked up their cloaks from the ledges at either side, took one last look at how low in the grave He lay, this Jesus, their Lord. Death lay heavy upon them. Then the stone rolled, and with a grinding thud, the day . . .