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.
Key Thought
I can only imagine what this experience must have meant to Joseph. Was it filled with regret for not having been more open about his allegiance to Jesus? Was it filled with deep sorrow for what he felt was lost? Was it filled with anger at seeing the body of Jesus in its abused, torn, and punctured condition? Was it a sense of finality that all had been lost and all hopes dashed with his death? As he placed Jesus in this fresh grave, did he hear a brief echo of a promised resurrection that stirred his hopes? As he walked away from the tomb, the stone set in its place at the entrance, did he give up hope altogether — in resentment of his cherished Jewish heritage that had brought about this moment and in disillusionment about his faith in Jesus who was now dead? We look at the crucifixion on this side of Jesus’ triumphant resurrection. Even when we celebrate the LORD’s Supper and remember the death of Jesus, we do so on this side of his triumph and we normally do so on Sunday, the day of his victory. It is only when one we love comes to the end of this life that we can begin to understand the weight of Joseph’s pain and grief. But even then, we can be thankful that Joseph’s painful task was done in preparation for the glorious Sunday when Jesus rose from the dead and changed everything.
Today’s Prayer
Hallelujah, God Almighty. You have taken death and defeated it through the work of your Son and my Savior, Jesus. Thank you. I praise you in the name of my risen LORD, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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