When did the women procure materials for embalming Jesus?
Luke: “They returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath Day” ([xxiii, 56]).
Mark (New Ver.): “And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices that they might come and anoint him” ([xvi, 1]).
According to Luke they prepared the spices before the Sabbath began, that is, before the end of the sixth day; according to Mark, they did not procure them until “the Sabbath was past,” that is, not until the beginning of the first day.
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When did they go to embalm the body?
Mark and Luke: “When the Sabbath was past, ... the first day of the week” ([Mark xvi, 1, 2]; [Luke xxiv, 1]).
Is it reasonable to suppose that in that warm spring climate (Dr. Geikie speaks of the fierce heat that prevailed at the time), they would let a wounded body lie two days, until decomposition had commenced, and then attempt to embalm it?