Day 9

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Join us for Day 9 of Journey to the Cross as we see Jesus buried in a tomb. Joseph of Arimathea, with courage and boldness, asked for the body of Jesus. With faith, he placed Jesus in a tomb that would ultimately not hold Him. Ask God to build your own courage in faith in your own resurrection and hope for eternal life. 

“And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.” Isaiah 53:9

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 53

“And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 27

As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus.  Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,  and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 

Reflection Time

The Bible tells us Jesus’ mother and a few of his closest friends were present at the crucifixion, but from the time of Jesus’ arrest to His resurrection, the only disciple we see actively and publicly identifying with Jesus is a man we haven’t heard of until now, Joseph of Arimathea.
The other gospels tell us he was a member of the council, also known as the Sanhedrin. These men were vocally opposed to Jesus and instrumental in His arrest and death, so Joseph’s belief in Jesus and boldness in taking the body to bury in his own tomb made him an outlier. What made him different? We see an insight in the gospels …  it says, “he was looking for the kingdom.”

Questions for Reflection

The other disciples were nowhere to be found until Mary and the others went to the tomb three days after Jesus’ death. Have you ever hidden or kept your faith a secret out of fear? Confess that to Jesus and ask Him to increase your faith and love for Him.

Joseph of Arimathea, in spite of his fear, was bold to approach Pilate and ask to honor Jesus in His death. What do you think it means to look for the kingdom?

Do you think it would make you bold if you ordered your priorities the way Joseph did?
What would that look like?