June 19 Jesus is Buried

John 19:38-42 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39 Nicodemus, who at first had gone to see Jesus at night, went with Joseph, taking with him about one hundred pounds of spices, a mixture of myrrh and aloes. 40 Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. 
 
THERE were Pharisees who believed Jesus was the prophesied Messiah. We learn of Joseph, who came from a region called Arimathea. Sources tell us he was a man of high standing as a ruling Jew. And this is the third time John brings Nicodemus into the story. Nicodemus began the discussion that led to two of John’s often-quoted truths: Jesus said in John 3:3 “No one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again.”  And the apostle summarizes the gospel with John 3:16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.”
   I wonder what the believing Joseph and Nicodemus were thinking as they prepared the Messiah’s body for burial? Jesus’ words had spoken to Nicodemus in a new and transforming way. When Nicodemus asked, “How can this be?” (John 3:9) and Jesus responded with, “I am telling you the truth.” (John 3:11) Nicodemus must have struggled, as we all do, with the truth. He must have examined what he had been taught. If he were a good Pharisee, he would have studied the law further. In his study, he might have read again of the first Passover in Exodus 12 to learn again how the sacrificed lamb’s blood on the doorposts saved the homes’ inhabitants. Perhaps he read again of God’s instructions to build a tabernacle and then a temple to include lampstands to always light the night. Did Nicodemus understand anew God’s sacrificial laws, requiring the first-born bulls and lambs to be a perfect offering to the Lord? Maybe he read the prophets, and the Spirit blew a fresh wind of truth into his soul and mind to understand the prophecies pointed to Jesus.
   Did he and Joseph put all the evidence together? If they did, Nicodemus and Joseph found Jesus. They found the Son of God, to believe in faith how true and right Jesus’ teachings are.
   So, I wonder again, what these “secret disciples” thought as they prepared his Messiah’s body for burial? Were they disappointed and doubting the truth now? Had they lost hope? Or did these believing men anticipate resurrection?  
   And even more, was there, somewhere in them an understanding that this was not the end? Did a light flicker in the darkness? Perhaps Jesus’ words give them pause to say, “Let’s see what God will now do.”
   It’s true, isn’t it? Jesus has more to offer than we can see. The light of his life goes beyond the broken circumstances of life, even death to point us to eternal life.
   Nicodemus and Joseph were about to find out. 
 
Prayer: Lord God, I pray for understanding and knowledge of your Word. I pray I will keep my eyes on your resurrection. In all things I do, Lord, may I know you are alive. Amen.