When he went to Pilate with the request for the body, even Pilate remembered that during the trial he had found nothing wrong in the man Jesus and he gave Joseph official permission for the burial of the body. They must give it all the love and honors that women have offered for centuries to their beloved dead. Jesus was the greatly beloved. One imagines their longing, their intense sorrow, their courage and fear as they waited and watched. Like all women through the ages, these particular friends, disciples, and relatives of Jesus, these women waited, wept, and watched.
Deep darkness falls.
Everything has ended. The church has speculated for centuries about what happened to the Spirit of Jesus during those hours of death. But we do know for sure that the dark hours for his human friends passed in grief and in waiting. But the accusers of Jesus remember. Love forgets and hate remembers.