Jesus is Buried

John 19:38-40 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 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. 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.

THIS is the third time John brings Nicodemus into the gospel account. Joseph is mentioned once in each gospel. He and Nicodemus were two Pharisee’s who wanted to learn from Jesus. Perhaps Jesus of Nazareth is the true Messiah!
    Nicodemus’ questions to Jesus in John 3 led to two of Jesus’ most quoted truths: John 3:3 “No one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again.” and 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.”
    Nicodemus had gone to Jesus because the Spirit had stirred a spark of faith in him and others: John 3:2b “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.”  Now what did Nicodemus believe as he prepared to bury the body of the one who had come from God. Do you think he remembered Jesus’ promise of new life?
 
John 3:4 “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
    Then again Nicodemus asked, “How can this be?” (John 3:9) Jesus responded with the essence of faith, “I am telling you the truth.” (John 3:11)
    From that day on Nicodemus must have struggled with the truth. He must have studied the Law further. Perhaps he read the prophets again and began to understand the Truth was in Israel.
    What was on Joseph’s and Nicodemus’ minds as they prepared the Teacher’s body for burial? Were they, as so many of Jesus’ followers, disappointed and doubting the truth now? Had they lost hope?
    Or did Nicodemus and Joseph anticipate resurrection? Were they wondering about being born again? Was there, somewhere in their minds, hearts and souls an understanding that something new and wonderful was about to happen? Did a light flicker? Did the power of their encounter with Jesus help them to keep their faith in the Teacher’s words?
    Jesus has more to offer than we can see. Jesus has taught us to be faithful. The light of his life flames into eternal truth far beyond our questions and even far beyond death. Nicodemus and Joseph are about to learn much more about the one who has come from God. 
 
Resurrection Truth: Stay with Jesus when it seems the broken cannot be repaired.