Word@Work 207 - Mark 15:44-47
Published: Thu, 09/11/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 15:44-47 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid. (NIV)
Without the previous verses, the first sentence today looks as though Pilate was shocked to learn of his own death! And indeed he was spiritually dead because of his sins, and like the rest of Christ-rejecting humanity, without hope and without God in the world (cf Eph 2:3,12)! Of course the text means that the death of Jesus was significantly premature compared with normal crucifixions. The centurion's death certificate was sought and the body was released.
Joseph's personal involvement with Jesus could not have been more obvious. He brought metres of linen burial cloth, enlisted the help of Nicodemus, and carried Jesus' body to the rock tomb along with 34 kilograms of embalming spices (cf John 19:39-40). Servants would have helped, perhaps the same ones who had hacked out the stone cave: all ready for Joseph, whenever his time might come (cf Matt 27:60). It was a graphic substitution demonstrating that Jesus was sealed into the death-place which belonged to him.
Jesus became the substitute for us in punishment and death, because he chose to. The price He paid, places an exceptionally high value on us. Yet gratitude and worship is too often an occasional response, and telling others can make us embarrassed. But Jesus did it all for us, and in some way, Joseph knew this demanded his full involvement that day. Perhaps we should think the same!
Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank you for choosing to substitute Yourself for me on the cross and in the grave. Please wake me up to the debt of gratitude I owe You, and give me the courage to express it in ways that will please You. In Your Name, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
Without the previous verses, the first sentence today looks as though Pilate was shocked to learn of his own death! And indeed he was spiritually dead because of his sins, and like the rest of Christ-rejecting humanity, without hope and without God in the world (cf Eph 2:3,12)! Of course the text means that the death of Jesus was significantly premature compared with normal crucifixions. The centurion's death certificate was sought and the body was released.
Joseph's personal involvement with Jesus could not have been more obvious. He brought metres of linen burial cloth, enlisted the help of Nicodemus, and carried Jesus' body to the rock tomb along with 34 kilograms of embalming spices (cf John 19:39-40). Servants would have helped, perhaps the same ones who had hacked out the stone cave: all ready for Joseph, whenever his time might come (cf Matt 27:60). It was a graphic substitution demonstrating that Jesus was sealed into the death-place which belonged to him.
Jesus became the substitute for us in punishment and death, because he chose to. The price He paid, places an exceptionally high value on us. Yet gratitude and worship is too often an occasional response, and telling others can make us embarrassed. But Jesus did it all for us, and in some way, Joseph knew this demanded his full involvement that day. Perhaps we should think the same!
Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank you for choosing to substitute Yourself for me on the cross and in the grave. Please wake me up to the debt of gratitude I owe You, and give me the courage to express it in ways that will please You. In Your Name, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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