Luke 23:50-56 - Two Courageous Men

Todaywe'll be looking at the last verses of Luke 23:50-56. As we look at thispassage of scripture, we learn that Joseph of Arimathea was also one of theseven meetings that Jesus had in this chapter with other people. Remember Hemet with Pilate and He met with Herod. On the way to the crucifixion, He metwith Simon of Cyrene who helped carry His cross. It was then that He spoke tothe women of Jerusalem. He spoke to the thief on the cross saying, “Todayyou'll be with Me in Paradise.” And then of course there was His Fatherthat He conversed with while He was on the cross. Now,this chapter ends with Christ being taken down off the cross by a man namedJoseph of Arimathea. Only the Gospel of John tells us that there was anotherperson involved with the burial of Jesus, and that was Nicodemus. Johnintroduces him in John chapter 3. In John 7:50, Nicodemus speaks up for Jesusin one of the council meetings when they’re trying to condemn Him. And ofcourse, we believe that neither Joseph of Arimathea nor Nicodemus was presentaccording to Mark 14:64 when “all the council” voted to condemned Jesusto death; they must not have been there because they were a part of thatSanhedrin, and they would not have voted to condemn Jesus. Accordingto the Gospel of John 19:38-42, we also notice that this tomb where they buriedJesus was in a garden nearby the place where He was crucified. We believe thatit’s very possible that this is a tomb that Joseph had previously prepared forJesus. He and Nicodemus had read the Scriptures. They had studied the fact thatthe Christ would die He would rise again. And they knew it was only a temporaryplace to bury the body of Jesus. It was a borrowed tomb in a sense, but it wasspecially prepared by Joseph for Jesus nearby. Joseph would have prepared hisown tomb in his home city close to where he lived. So we believe Joseph ownedthis tomb and he prepared it for Jesus.  Andwe also know that this burial fulfilled the Scripture. We believe that it ispossible Nicodemus and Joseph had studied the Scriptures in Isaiah 53:9, andalso knew that it says that the Messiah “made His grave with the rich in Hisdeath”. And so they fulfilled that Scripture. When Jesus died, Joseph isready to go immediately to Pilate. Nicodemus is part of helping have everythingready. Because they would not have been able to go shopping for these items onPassover, Joseph and Nicodemus must have already purchased the things that wereneeded for the burial of Christ, the fine linen that they wrapped Him and the hundredpounds of myrrh and aloes to anoint His body (John 19:38-44).  Itwas very important that Jesus be buried by people that would know He was deadbecause His death and resurrection are the very essence of the Gospel. Theproof was evidenced by the fact that men like these, men of character andintegrity were the ones who took His body off the cross and buried Him. Ifthere were any doubt about His death or burial, that could affect the messageand the ministry of the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). Italso might be interesting to remember that in Genesis 2:1-3, after six days, Godfinished the work of the “old Creation” and He rested. Now after six hours onthe cross, Jesus finished the work of the “new Creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17),and He rested on the Sabbath in Joseph’s tomb.  And because Christ’s resurrection, three dayslater, we know that we can experience this new life in Jesus Christ and alsofind our “rest and peace” in Him! ThankGod for people that stand up for Jesus like Joseph and Nicodemus and were partof this very powerful story of the death, burial, and resurrection of JesusChrist. God bless you as you meditate on these things today. Are you willing tobe identified with the resurrected Savior today? Godbless!