Key Passage
Joseph bought some linen cloth. Joseph took the body from the cross and wrapped the body in the linen. Then Joseph put the body in a tomb (grave) that was dug in a wall of rock. Then Joseph closed the tomb by rolling a large stone to cover the entrance.
— Mark 15:46 ERV (Read Full Text)
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 with 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 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.
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.
Related Scriptures
Jesus arrived in Bethany. Jesus found that Lazarus had already been dead and in the tomb for four days. Bethany was about two miles from Jerusalem. Many Jews had come to Martha and Mary. They came to comfort them about their brother {Lazarus}. Martha heard that Jesus was coming. She went out to greet Jesus. But Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you anything you ask." Jesus said, "Your brother will rise and be alive again." Martha answered, "I know that he will rise to live again when people are resurrected (raised from death) on the last day." Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection. I am life. The person that believes in me will have life {again} after he dies. And the person that lives and believes in me will never really die. Martha, do you believe this?"
— John 11:17-26
The next day after the Sabbath day, Mary from Magdala, Salome, and Mary the mother of James bought some sweet-smelling spices. They wanted to put the spices on Jesus' body. Very early on that day, the first day of the week, the women were going to the tomb. It was very early after sunrise. The women said to each other, "There is a large stone covering the entrance of the tomb. Who will move the stone for us?" Then the women looked and saw that the stone was moved. The stone was very large, but it was moved away from the entrance. The women walked into the tomb. They saw a young man there wearing a white robe. The man was sitting on the right side of the tomb. The women were afraid. But the man said, "Don't be afraid. You are looking for Jesus from Nazareth, the one that was killed on a cross. He has risen from death! He is not here. Look, here is the place they put him when he was dead. Now go and tell his followers. And {be sure to} tell Peter. Tell them, 'Jesus is going into Galilee. He will be there before you. You will see him there like he told you before.'"
— Mark 16:1-7
I tell you this, brothers and sisters: Flesh and blood (a physical body) cannot have a part in the kingdom of God. A thing that will ruin cannot have a part in something that never ruins. But listen, I tell you this secret: We will not all die, but we will all be changed. It will only take the time of a second. We will be changed as quickly as an eye blinks. This will happen when the last trumpet blows. The trumpet will blow and those {believers} who have died will be raised to live forever. And we {also} will all be changed. This {body} that will ruin must clothe itself with something that will never ruin. And this {body} that dies must clothe itself with something that will never die. So this {body} that ruins will clothe itself with that which never ruins. And this body that dies will clothe itself with that which never dies. When this happens, then the Scriptures will be made true: "Death is swallowed (defeated) in victory." "Death, where is your victory? Grave, where is your power to hurt?" Death's power to hurt is sin. And the power of sin is the law. But we thank God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, my dear brothers and sisters, stand strong. Don't let anything change you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord. You know that your work in the Lord is never wasted.
— 1 Corinthians 15:50-58
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