Word@Work Luke350 - Luke 23:50-54
Published: Thu, 05/05/11
Word@Work from BeaconLight
HONOUR AT LAST (DIVINELY TIED ENDS)
Luke 23:50-54 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 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. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body. 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. It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. (NIV)
Crucifixion was horrible. Horrible to endure, and horrible to watch. Then what should happen to the body? In Roman eyes, there should be no dignity for the criminal, especially if the charge was treason. The body would normally be left decomposing for several days as a warning to others. However, in Jewish eyes there was a curse on the crucified (Deuteronomy 21:22-23) and the body must be buried before nightfall. But Jesus had been abandoned by His disciples, accused of blasphemy by the Jews and condemned as a traitor by Pilate. So who would bury the body?
Joseph from Arimathea stepped forwards. He was a wealthy member of the Sanhedrin council which condemned Jesus, although he did not agree with the verdict. He was looking for God's kingdom to come and wanted to honour Jesus. Having had a new rock tomb cut for him and his family, Joseph decided to place the body of Jesus there. So he asked Pilate for permission to take Jesus' body to his own grave. Having been one of the Council of accusers Joseph was a safe person to take possession of the corpse, Pilate was relieved and nobody else cared. But Joseph's actions were already prophesied in Isaiah 53:9: "He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth."
Joseph was true to his convictions at last: Jesus was not guilty, but His death made Joseph aware of his own guilt and one day he would join Jesus in His grave. It was a sort of baptismal confession. The Apostle Paul puts it like this, "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." (Romans 6:4). The truth is that there is no blessed eternal life for anyone, unless we reckon that the death of Jesus should have been our death; and that sin's curse on us was carried by Him. But for those of us who rejoice in Jesus' sacrifice, we need to be bold and courageous like Joseph in identifying with Jesus in His death. We must be unafraid and unashamed of Him, because we are honoured to be part of His kingdom. Today is the day to step out of the shadows and confess that you truly honour Christ.
Prayer: Almighty God. I am amazed at the way in which You tied together all the loose ends of the life of Jesus Christ to Your glory, and how You involved Joseph of Arimathea. Forgive me when I cannot see how you will complete Your work in me and in those I love. Help me to trust You to lead me so that I may to do my part and leave You to bring all of Your plans together. May I learn the privilege of honouring Jesus Christ when nobody else will, and be willing to identify with Him in His death so that my life will bring Him glory. In His Name. Amen.
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Crucifixion was horrible. Horrible to endure, and horrible to watch. Then what should happen to the body? In Roman eyes, there should be no dignity for the criminal, especially if the charge was treason. The body would normally be left decomposing for several days as a warning to others. However, in Jewish eyes there was a curse on the crucified (Deuteronomy 21:22-23) and the body must be buried before nightfall. But Jesus had been abandoned by His disciples, accused of blasphemy by the Jews and condemned as a traitor by Pilate. So who would bury the body?
Joseph from Arimathea stepped forwards. He was a wealthy member of the Sanhedrin council which condemned Jesus, although he did not agree with the verdict. He was looking for God's kingdom to come and wanted to honour Jesus. Having had a new rock tomb cut for him and his family, Joseph decided to place the body of Jesus there. So he asked Pilate for permission to take Jesus' body to his own grave. Having been one of the Council of accusers Joseph was a safe person to take possession of the corpse, Pilate was relieved and nobody else cared. But Joseph's actions were already prophesied in Isaiah 53:9: "He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth."
Joseph was true to his convictions at last: Jesus was not guilty, but His death made Joseph aware of his own guilt and one day he would join Jesus in His grave. It was a sort of baptismal confession. The Apostle Paul puts it like this, "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." (Romans 6:4). The truth is that there is no blessed eternal life for anyone, unless we reckon that the death of Jesus should have been our death; and that sin's curse on us was carried by Him. But for those of us who rejoice in Jesus' sacrifice, we need to be bold and courageous like Joseph in identifying with Jesus in His death. We must be unafraid and unashamed of Him, because we are honoured to be part of His kingdom. Today is the day to step out of the shadows and confess that you truly honour Christ.
Prayer: Almighty God. I am amazed at the way in which You tied together all the loose ends of the life of Jesus Christ to Your glory, and how You involved Joseph of Arimathea. Forgive me when I cannot see how you will complete Your work in me and in those I love. Help me to trust You to lead me so that I may to do my part and leave You to bring all of Your plans together. May I learn the privilege of honouring Jesus Christ when nobody else will, and be willing to identify with Him in His death so that my life will bring Him glory. In His Name. Amen.
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