JESUS IS BURIED

Reading from Luke Ch. 23 vs 50-56

Do you ever ask yourself what you can do with what you have, be it your faith, possessions, influence, choices? In this life there’s a lot we are not able to control but aside that is what we can. No matter how small it might be, it’s often good to pay more attention to that than the former. This shot passage looks at a man named Joseph and he was a Jew from the town Arimathea, prior to this passage there’s no mention of him but he did something significant with what he had. I know and I’m very glad that there’s so many of us believers, but other than God and your community, people might not ever know of your faith and we should be okay with that. What we shouldn’t be okay with is just letting our faith be passive because in any place or situation you have everything you need to do something for God if you decide to.

Now, this Joseph was a member of the council, yes the same council that wanted Jesus to be put to death and actually succeeded. Not everyone wanted this to happen and Joseph was one of these men, he was a good and righteous man but sometimes it won’t matter what you think or the kind of person you are. It was probably a majority vote and he was in the minority, but to the outside or lover of Jesus he was probably no different from those that voted for Jesus to be crucified. It’s interesting how there are things assumed of any of us by virtue of being part of a particular group, whether or not you have the same behaviour or agreed to the actions that the group is seen to make. And that’s now where you have to make some choice, do you just go along with it because people think it or you’ll stand by and do what you can to show that you do not stand by what the majority does. I know it’s not that straight forward and many of us might not even have the opportunity to do so but when it does come, do you best to.

It did come for Joseph, he was a man who was looking for the kingdom of God and so after Jesus was crucified he went to ask Pilate for his body. He most likely believed in Jesus and his action was also very timely. After crucifixions the bodies would kinda just be thrown in some place and they would break the bones of the dead just in case any of them was faking it and tried to run off later and so Joseph asking for Jesus’ body insured that didn’t happen. Also think about the situation and how tense it might have been, most likely anyone who was thought to have worked with or moved alongside Jesus was probably going to get arrested and maybe harmed by virtue of the association. Now think of that and how God is so cool in the way he works, he plans everything even what doesn’t seem as important. He considers situations and context and it might seem like everything is forgotten but he is moving things around so everything is catered for and different needs are always met.

His plans are very intricate and detailed and so we shouldn’t worry, he is actively working through any one of us for some bigger thing that we might not even have any awareness of. Now, Joseph wasn’t asking for the body to just maybe protect Jesus’ bones from being broken but so that he could bury him. How sweet right, I wondered if they ever met or spoke but regardless God put it on his heart to do this good and commendable thing. I know it’s written about but it wasn’t some action done to seek glory or a name, it was just an act of kindness and concern and we too should be moved to behave in such ways. There’s usually opportunity to serve if we pay attention. So Joseph got Jesus’ body and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid in a tomb cut in stone that no one had ever been laid in. He actually put in the extra effort to buy this tomb and wrap our lord and put him to rest properly and respectfully.

See Joseph couldn’t control the decision to crucify Jesus but he had the choice of what he could do after the fact and he chose to bury and treat Jesus respectfully in his death. We can’t control everything but there’s something we can control or do and it’s good to able to think of that and actually challenge yourself to do something more from your little. This whole burying process was done quickly because it was the day of preparation and the Sabbath would be starting soon. There were some ladies that had come with Joseph from Galilee who followed him and saw the tomb and how Jesus was laid. They then went to prepare spices and ointments to properly prepare the body because they couldn’t do it then because of the Sabbath. Just more of the little that we can do that can make the difference, of course we understand there would be no need because Jesus would resurrect but everything was necessary even for those few days.

Sometimes it might seem like our little effort might not make any difference or that our disagreement with evil goes unnoticed or unheard and there isn’t any impact. But we should still do it, we should still stand for or show our faith. We can still help, serve or just show the love of Jesus to someone in whatever way shows itself. We can do something with what we have but it requires us to make the choice to do so and I hope both you and I can begin to take the steps no matter how small, it matters and plays a part in God’s intricate plan and he invites you to take part of it with him. Remember Jesus Loves you always!