Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today, we’ll close this Holy Week looking at hidden lessons from Jesus’ burial.

Today’s scripture, John 19:38‭-‬42 NLT
(NLT), shares…
Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away. With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth. The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before. And so, because it was the day of preparation for the Jewish Passover and since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

And Mark 15:43‭-‬47 (NLT) said…
Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. (Joseph was an honored member of the high council, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.) Pilate couldn’t believe that Jesus was already dead, so he called for the Roman officer and asked if he had died yet. The officer confirmed that Jesus was dead, so Pilate told Joseph he could have the body. Joseph bought a long sheet of linen cloth. Then he took Jesus’ body down from the cross, wrapped it in the cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone in front of the entrance. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where Jesus’ body was laid.

And Matthew 27:57-‬61 (NLT) said…
As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who had become a follower of Jesus, went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth. He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left. Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb and watching.

Consider…
Have you ever heard the same story told from different perspectives? Each perspective includes the same core elements, but the complete story is found in the details. Today’s scriptures are an example of this.

All the passages confirm, that Joseph of Arimathea…

• Asked Pilate for permission to take Jesus’ body.
• Took Jesus’ body down from the cross.
• Buried Jesus in a new tomb.

After that, varying details are shared.

John shares…

• Nicodemus, the born again Pharisee (John 3:1-6) helped prepare Jesus’ body for burial.
• Jesus’ burial was done in accordance with Jewish customs.
• Jesus was buried in a nearby garden. It’s fascinating that Adam was removed from the garden because of death from sin, and Jesus was buried in a garden because of His death for sin. 🤯

Mark shares…

• Joseph of Arimathea to a risk asking for Jesus’ body. Based on the fact that Joseph’s status was emphasized, I believe the risk was him being associated with Jesus, who the blood thirsty priests and Pharisees just had crucified. (Matthew 27:62-64). Side note: It’s interesting that Peter and the other known disciples denied knowing and abandoned Jesus, but Joseph of Arimathea, the secret disciple according to John, claimed His body.
• Pilate didn’t believe Jesus was dead, so he made sure before releasing his body.

Both Mark and Matthew share…

• Joseph of Arimathea dressed Jesus for the grave, as was the Jewish custom.
• Joseph of Arimathea rolled the stone across the grave opening, as was the Jewish custom.
• Mary Magdalene and another Mary were at Jesus’ graveside ceremony.

This shows us that our customs, though they may look different, may shape how we care for Jesus. When we use our customs to honor God, they become acts of worship.

So what do all of these details tell us?

• Although Jesus cared for everyone, during his life and death, less than a handful cared for Him at the end.
• Only a small remnant of those who Jesus saw about during His life, took the time to see about Him after His death.
• These faithful four who witnessed Jesus selflessly die for them, devoted themselves to unselfishly care for Him.
• Just as Jesus prioritized these two men and two women with His life, they focused on taking care of Him after his death.
• Even though it appeared Jesus couldn’t do anything else for them because he was ‘dead dead’, as confirmed by Pilate, this harmonious quartet did everything they could to honor him.

There are many more lessons we could pull out from Jesus’ burial, yet the most important one is that people who really love and care about Jesus, do so without expectations or hopes of what He can or will do for Him.

Today, as we pause between the devastation of Jesus’ death and celebration of His resurrection, let’s pause and just love and worship Him with no strings attached.

It’s great to recognize, acknowledge and celebrate how much God unconditionally loves and cares for us, but I believe it means more to Him when we unconditionally love and care for Him.

Today’s song is…
My Worship

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)