Easter Thoughts - Pt. 5

 

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb. (Matthew 27:57-61 ESV).

 

It’s Holy Saturday. Jesus was dead in the grave. He was buried by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus (cf. John 19:39), both Pharisees. Secretly they’d become followers of Jesus. His disciples had scattered, so these two Pharisees stepped forward. Joseph courageously asked Pilate for Jesus’ body after most of the Pharisees had demanded his crucifixion. Then Joseph contributed his own newly dug tomb. He and Nicodemus ensured that their crucified master was properly buried. Their generosity reminds us of the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume (John 12:1-8).

 

Nicodemus and Joseph acted with no assurance of Jesus’ resurrection, though he had said it would happen. But a new day would soon be dawning! Every disciple’s life from now on would be transformed. History itself would change. But on that Saturday, Jesus’ body lay quite dead in a borrowed grave. It must have been a very difficult day for the disciples. They had heard Jesus say He would be resurrected; they had seen Him bring others back from the dead. However, it had to feel lonely and desperate.

 

Isn’t that the same emotion we are often tempted with when faced with such daunting circumstances. The hopelessness sets in like a thick, impenetrable fog. It threatens to suffocate us with despair. To their credit they must have remembered the words of Peter when asked by Jesus if they would go away like so many of the crowds by the sea. Peter simply said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:58 ESV).

 

Those are the words we must recall, especially on this day. Joseph and Nicodemus buried the Savior as an act of loving devotion. That’s all that every disciple is called to do: live today, obediently and devotedly, in the sure hope that God will make everything new. The dead Savior they boldly buried would soon rise as the Lord of new life!