Death brings with it harsh realities. The physical absence of the person who died and the decay of the physical body are two of the harshest. The women are doing what was expected and what was necessary when a loved one in Jesus' day died. They show their honor and respect by preparing the dead body properly. When people we love die, there are necessities that have to be handled. As difficult as these are, they help reinforce that this person is gone from us. Our emotions settle in on the absence of that person and all that it means. The toughest reality about grief is that the only way past it is to go through it. Though not ready to give up Jesus to death, these women do what is necessary—both for the dead body and for their aching spirits—by taking care of the body properly.