Matthew 27:57-61

Matthew 27:57-61

And after becoming evening, a rich man came from Arimathea – this one is Joseph – who himself was being a disciple of Jesus.  After this one drew near to Pilate he asked for the body of Jesus.  At that time Pilate commanded it to be given.  And after Joseph took the body he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and he set it in his new tomb that he hewed in the rock and after rolling a great stone up to the entrance of the tomb he went away.  And Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there while sitting opposite the tomb.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

This passage gives us an unusual perspective on Isaiah 53:9.  That passage in Isaiah is clearly a passage that God reinterprets to be about His Messiah.  But we cannot help ask the obvious question.  If Jesus is the Messiah, how could this son of a carpenter ever find himself buried with the rich?  Joseph of Arimathea is there to provide us with that answer.  Joseph of Arimathea is there as God’s agent for making His word come true.  Joseph of Arimathea had a tomb cut out of new rock.  Joseph of Arimathea would bury Jesus in that new tomb among the rich.  This poor son of a carpenter would find an unexpected burial provided at the hand of God as He worked through an obedient servant.  This is a great picture of God and mankind coming together.

Have you ever considered the action of Joseph of Arimathea to be more than an act of kindness?  How can this story help use continue to see God’s control over what happened?

Second Thought:

Matthew doesn’t go into this kind of detail, but other Gospel writers do.  Joseph was one of the ruling Jews – see Mark 15:43.  This would mean that keeping the Sabbath rules – especially those governing the Passover, the most holy time of the year – would be extraordinarily important to Joseph.  However, Joseph goes to the cross and removes the dead body of Jesus.  He comes in contact with blood, which would make him unclean.  He comes in contact with a dead body, which would also make him unclean.  Being unclean, this member of the Sanhedrin would be unable to celebrate the Passover with his people!  Yet the witness of Joseph is that the blood of Christ is far more important than ritual purity.  Obedience to God’s will is more important than ritual purity.  Obedience to God is the goal of life – even if it flies in the face of what we’ve done in human tradition for years.

In what way does this make Joseph a rebel?  In what way does this story make Joseph an interesting study for modeling behavior?

Third Thought:

Furthermore, we have more displays of love and faithfulness from the women.  Mary and Martha stay across the tomb.  They watch.  They wait.  They stay beside their Lord.  I can’t say that they understand what is going on.  They are likely there because they are still overcome with grief and a lack of understanding.  But the truth is that they are there.  Regardless of their ability to comprehend the workings of the Father, they are there with their Lord.  That’s faith, hope, and love all wrapped up in one action.

How can the witness of these women be a testimony to all who follow Jesus as Lord?  What do you find most admirable about these women who follow Jesus?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 27:62-66