Today's passage is Matthew27:57-66.
Joseph of Arimathea asks for Jesus's body, puts it in his own new tomb, and rolls a big stone in front of the entrance while two Marys watch. With Pilot's permission the chief priests put a seal on the tomb and post a guard out of fear the disciples will steal the body and say Jesus rose from the dead.
Joseph of Arimathea is one of the few rich men in the gospels who enters the kingdom of heaven. Not only is he rich, but his request forJesus' body shows that he makes no secret of his faith in Jesus.
He gives Jesus his newly made tomb. He has made preparation for his own death, his own body, but Jesus had other plans for it. Joseph has the wealth, social position and respect that he can ask Pilot for Jesus' body and receive it.
On the redemptive level, what has Jesus done?
He puts himself in place of Joseph in the tomb.
There is no room for Joseph in the tomb now. Jesus has replaced him.
Jesus is dead and Joseph is alive, born again by faith and the Holy Spirit.
Joseph shows me what I need to do by faith.
I too need to accept the dead body of Jesus and allow him in my tomb instead of me.
When I do this I accept his free gift to live a born again life seeking to do the will of God.
Jesus died for me because only the sacrifice of his perfect innoncence could pay the price of my sin and let me go free.
Until today, though, I never saw my need to let Jesus take my place in my tomb as Joseph did.
The gospel never says Joseph cried, but what else could he do for his dead Lord?
What else could the Marys do?
What else can I do but weep tears of gratitude for my undeserved replacement in the tomb?
Just as no one stood in Joseph's way to his burying Jesus, so too does no one stand in my way.
Like Peter, I continually deny my Lord and continually repent with bitter tears.
And like Joseph, I continually carry Jesus to my tomb in my place, weeping tears of gratitude for my undeserved rebirth.
Lord, let me not take your death for granted, let me not seek to seal your tomb and guard it with my selfish focus of worldly success and the vain dependence on my own strength. Let me cry with gratitude that you died for me that I might live for you.
