Dear Student of the Word,
Greetings once again as we close in on the completion of this devotional study from Luke's gospel. There is only one more installment after this one and this week, we look at the verses that discuss Jesus' crucifixion, death and resurrection. In part four of this seven-part study, I look at the good things that began to happen immediately after Jesus' death. Here is part four, while the entire study is available to download at the end of this entry:
Study Thirty-Three, Part Four
50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. 55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
23:50-52 – Even though Jesus had died, the Father began to raise up a people that would continue to identify with their Lord. The first was Joseph, a Jewish leader. He was a good man and had not consented to the actions of his fellow leaders. While most assumed that Jesus’ death would have demoralized and disbanded His followers, His death actually energized and gave them courage. John told us:
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 (John 19:38).
Joseph no longer feared the Jews and showed tremendous courage in coming forward to claim Jesus body. The Holy Spirit honors this man’s courage by mentioning him in all four gospels. He asked Pilate for Jesus’ body and Pilate consented.
23:53 – Many feel that Joseph was wealthy because he owned a hand-hewn tomb, which would have been quite expensive. Of course Joseph would receive his tomb back shortly, but he didn’t know that would happen. He was willing to give his own tomb to Jesus, but Jesus had something different in mind. Instead of Jesus taking Joseph’s place of death, Jesus gave Joseph a place of life that would render his tomb less important. While Jesus showed us how to die, He more importantly showed us all how we would live and that we would live forever if we put our trust in Him. Thank You, Jesus!
23:54&55 – The Sabbath began on Friday evening at sundown, and Joseph did not wish to profane the Sabbath. What Joseph did had many witnesses, for the women followed the funeral procession to the tomb and saw Jesus placed in that tomb.
23:56 – The women went home to keep the Sabbath, but it would be the last normal Sabbath they would ever observe. The women had no hope or idea that Jesus would come back to life, for they were preparing the embalming ointments. They, like Joseph, were prepared to publicly declare that they were disciples of Jesus, and were ready to risk their lives to identify with Him in death. The good news is that there would be no need to do so. After this begins the most exciting chapter in the Bible, for it tells of the unthinkable—that God would raise a dead man back to life.
As we read on, let us summon our own courage to identify with Jesus, no matter what situation we find ourselves in. Because I travel extensively and sometimes go to dangerous areas, people ask me if I am scared. I respond that at times I am, but I surrendered my life to Jesus on May 18, 1973. I didn’t loan Him my life on that day—I gave it to Him. Therefore, I will not take it back, and I will not shrink from wherever it is He wants me to go and do. I hope I am following in the courageous footsteps of Joseph and the women when I do that. Are you prepared to join me and do the same?
As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. For additional Bible studies, check out my website archive, which contains a complete collection of all my verse-by-verse New Testament studies, along with the daily devotional entitled Your Life Matters: Daily Reflections from the Book of Psalms. Thank you and I hope you continue to enjoy this study of Luke's gospel from God's word.
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