Now there was a virtuous and righteous man named Joseph who, though he was a member of the council, had not consented to their plan of action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea and was awaiting the kingdom of God. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. (Luke 23:50-52)
From now to the end of Luke’s passion, not a word will be spoken. Silence.
At the beginning of Luke’s Gospel, we read of Simeon, a “righteous and devout man… awaiting the consolation of Israel,” who took the child Jesus in his arms.
Now, at the end, I hear of Joseph, “a virtuous and righteous man… awaiting the kingdom of God” who goes to Pilate on Jesus’ behalf, and takes the Lord’s Body in his arms. (Luke does not say that he was a believer in Jesus.)
“After Joseph had taken the body down, he wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid him in a rock-hewn tomb in which no one had yet been buried. It was the day of preparation, and the Sabbath was about to begin.” Luke 23:53-54
So, at the bookends of Jesus life, both shortly after His birth and again after His death, there was a righteous man on the scene ministering… During the latter instance though, was the only time recorded since Jesus began his ministry that he was totally dependent on someone else’s help.
Normally the corpse would be washed and rubbed with oil before being wrapped in linen. This especially ought to be done when a body is covered with blood. But Joseph had to bury Jesus quickly, because the Sabbath began at sundown. Luke says that he simply wrapped the body in a linen cloth and laid it in the tomb.
What was it like for Joseph? Perhaps it was an interruption in his day that took him away from something else he had to do, something he may have considered more important.
It sets me to thinking about Jesus’ words in the Last Judgement in Matthew: “Amen I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least ones, you did for me.” That’s easy to believe in theory, but hard to believe in practice.
Perhaps this scene when Joseph takes care of Jesus’ body should be the one I contemplate when I’m prompted to go out of my way to help someone.
Adapted from the Little Black Book, Diocese of Saginaw.
FYI merlin thinking you may enjoy the April 9 2023 post titled “Really Now… Containers, Cracked Pots, Cradles & Caskets.” The latter two, cradles & caskets are, or will likely be, the bookends of our lives; not a temple, not a tomb…
Because He Lives…
God sent His son, they called Him Jesus;
He came to love, heal, and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living, Just because He lives!
Bill & Gloria Gaither