The impact the death of
Christ made was immediate. We are told that evening was approaching. It was the
time to begin preparing for the Sabbath, the next day. Mark introduced a member
of the Sanhedrin who was impacted by the ordeal of Christ’s death. He was none
other than Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Sanhedrin. Luke 23:50
tells us that he was “a good and upright man.” He had been waiting for the Kingdom
of God. From John 19:38, we learned that he was a disciple of Jesus, but
followed Him secretly for fear of the Jews. Fear is one dominant factor that
had caused many followers of Christ not to stand up for Him when He needed it
most. It was precisely this fear that had kept him from speaking up in the
closing hours of the Lord’s life. Though he could not agree with the Sanhedrin
concerning the Lord, there was no sign that he stood with Him in His hour of
need. But as he saw the astonishing ordeal and death that Jesus underwent, he finally
mustered enough courage to approach Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. We
must admire him for this moment. He risked everything to come and get the body
of Jesus for burial.
The lifeless body of
Christ, together with those two crucified with Him, would had been chucked into
the grave of the common criminals. That would have been the ultimate humiliation.
Obviously Joseph could not bear that thought. So he finally found the courage and went to
Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus, to give Him a decent burial. Why was this
a brave act? Pilate could take it out on him since he was a member of the
Sanhedrin. That governor was possibly seething in anger for being out manipulated
by the Sanhedrin into killing an innocent man. Besides, he could be viewed by
his colleagues in the Sanhedrin as a turncoat and be expelled from the council.
If that happened, he would be despised for identifying with what they thought
was a false Messiah, who was crucified. But what’s heartening now is the fact
that he was prepared to do something about it, although in many minds there was
nothing in it for him. For this Jesus was dead. And the dream of being liberated
was over.
Pilate, having ascertained
that Jesus had died, allowed Joseph to have His body. Verses 46 says, “Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Him down,
wrapped Him in the linen cloth and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out
in the rock; and he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.” Meanwhile, Mary Magdalene and Mary, the earthly mother
of Jesus, looked on to see where the Lord was buried. So after
many hours of intense and immense activities, the day finally grind to a halt,
with Jesus buried and two faithful women knowing where His tomb was. The harsh
reality dawned on all who loved Jesus then. He was gone. As the stone was rolled
over the grave to shut the entrance, all their hope died with it.
What was it that gave
Joseph of Arimathea the courage to come out boldly to acknowledge His association with
Jesus? It can’t be fame nor anything that he could gain. For he was not even
aware of what was coming. In fact, he was facing greater risk to be counted
with Jesus at that point. Was it his regret that finally made him wanted to do
something right? The answers to these and many questions rest alone with Joseph.
On this side of earth we probably will never know. But one thing we can take
heart from is what he finally did. Though he was not one who was given to public
demonstration or could be easily persuaded, when the hour demands his
commitment and involvement, he rose to the occasion! He made it count where it
matters. Can this be said of us? Are we willing to stand up for Jesus and be
counted where it really matters?
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