“I’ve long been aware of what Nico and Joey did late on Friday. What has always puzzled me is what more, given what had already been done, the women were planning to do on Sunday morning.”
Yes, I’ve wondered that as well. Having meditated on it on and off for perhaps 20 years, perhaps it’s as simple as they wanted to add their layer of spices to what was already there to honor Jesus. Rather like laying flowers at a grave site.
The women’s actions were very planned and determined from the evening of burial. They watched the men prepare the body. They rested on the Sabbath and they bought the spices and prepared them. Very likely, they thought the men didn’t know how to do it properly. What wasn’t planned was how to open the tomb.
There is nothing wrong with gilding the lily.