Friday, May 3, 2013

Jesus Is Buried

“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. 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)
So Jesus is buried. Joseph buries him. He was a member of the council, but he didn’t agree with what they did. He wasn’t enough though. Joseph seems to have been a follower of Jesus, if but at a distance. He is looking for the kingdom of God. Whatever his disappointment may or may not have been, he was going to stand by Jesus regardless. He gives him his grave. He had an expensive one close by. He wraps him and buries him.
Women have followed. When they see where Jesus is laid they go to find and buy burial spices. They may not have known that Nicodemus had met up with Joseph to prepare Jesus for burial. Or they may not have trusted men, and strangers at that to do it. Burial was typically women’s work in the OT.

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