Written by Paul Lane
The Word
50 Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning.[ Greek was dawning] 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments.
On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
-Luke 23:50-56 (ESV)
38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus[Greek him] by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds[Greek one hundred litras; a litra (or Roman pound) was equal to about 11 1/2 ounces or 327 grams] in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.
-John 19:38-42 (ESV)
9 And they made his grave with the wicked
and with a rich man in his death,
although[Or because] he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.-Isaiah 53:9 (ESV)
Reflection
If you have ever worked on a setup or breakdown crew, this passage is for you. This is a devotion for all the people who are sitting on the edge of the action, wondering how they can contribute, if only a little bit, so that they can know that they were a part of it all. Yes, you are told that what you are doing is important work: setting up chairs, setting tables, etc. And yes, it’s easy to understand that if this work were not done, the event would not go off as well as it could. But in the back of your mind, there is a voice that says you are not important. Well, the next time you are in this situation, think on this passage.
The deed is done. The Christ is dead. The Jewish leaders have gotten what they wanted and Pilate has given in to their demands. So, the drama should be over, but it is not. Ancient civilizations have stories of the Phoenix rising from the ashes, and of course Hollywood has seen no end to the stories about heroes and villains who never really seem to die. But to what end? We Christians have an answer to that question.
The events we read are part of a story, spanning thousands of years, which explains God’s loving plan to save all mankind. The fall of Adam and Eve placed all of mankind in jeopardy of hell and damnation. God sent prophets, strong men, warriors, kings, farmers, sailors, doctors, and even a tax collector to support the string of events He would use for man’s redemption. And now, God chooses a rich man to do the work of a poor man. By choosing Joseph, God fulfills a prophecy (ref. Isaiah 53:9). Though Jesus was killed as a traitor and destined to be buried as a nobody, Joseph provided him with the tomb of a rich man.
Now think of Joseph himself. He gets to be in the list of things called “good” in the Bible. When the council decided to have Jesus killed, he distinguished himself from those who voted “yes.” He was also known as one who was “waiting for the kingdom of God.” If you are looking for something to be known by, you could hardly do better than that.
To fulfill this prophecy, Joseph had to get the courage to go to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus. But as it turns out, there was no need to be scared. God had prepared the way. With Pilate’s wife telling him that Jesus was a righteous man, and the Jewish leaders forcing him into this undesirable situation, Joseph must have looked like a God-send to Pilate. Giving him the body would be the perfect last word in his arguments with the Jewish leaders. Pilate had already called Jesus a king, and had fought with the Jewish leaders about it. Having Jesus buried in a rich man’s tomb would be the icing on the cake.
And so, the humble action of a rich man – or two given that Nicodemus also shows up – closes the door on the final chapter of fallen man. Man, created in God’s splendor and beauty had fallen and been returned to the dust. And with the Sun set, so ends Friday night.
Application
And as the preacher says, “it’s Friday night, but Sunday’s coming!!” Often, it is not our grandest gestures or our most brilliant revelations that move history. Rather, it is our most faithful obediences to what we know is right, and good, and true (Sorry, spell checker doesn’t like the word “obediences”, but I do. It fits well here). It helps me communicate the thought that it’s not a one-time thing. It is a daily decision to follow. Our crosses must be taken up daily, and our salvation must be worked out moment by moment with fear and trembling. For it is there, and only there that we can receive and accept God’s loving support and guidance into the new creation He intents for us.
Joseph’s love did not fail him when he entered that room with Pilate. And because of it, we can see the burial of the old man, and the planting of the love of the new. So, thank you for setting up those chairs.
Prayer
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
14 For he knows our frame;[ Or knows how we are formed]
he remembers that we are dust.Psalm 103:10-14 (ESV)
9 For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things.Psalm 107:9 (ESV)
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