March
27, 2003
THEY
MADE HIS GRAVE WITH THE RICH AT HIS DEATH
"After
this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but
secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might
take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission.
So he came and took the body of Jesus" (John 19:38, NKJV).
"And
Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came,
bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.
Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of
linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.
Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden,
and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been
laid. So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews' Preparation
Day, for the tomb was nearby" (John 19:39-42).
"With
the death of Christ the hopes of His disciples perished. They
looked upon His closed eyelids and drooping head, His hair
matted with blood, His pierced hands and feet, and their anguish
was indescribable. Until the last they had not believed that
He would die; they could hardly believe that He was really
dead... Christ's body was very precious to His disciples.
They longed to give Him an honored burial, but knew not how
to accomplish this. Treason against the Roman government was
the crime for which Jesus was condemned, and persons put to
death for this offense were consigned to a burial ground especially
provided for such criminals. The disciple John with the women
from Galilee had remained at the cross. They could not leave
the body of their Lord to be handled by the unfeeling soldiers,
and buried in a dishonored grave. Yet they could not prevent
it. They could obtain no favors from the Jewish authorities,
and they had no influence with Pilate.
"In
this emergency, Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus came to
the help of the disciples. Both these men were members of
the Sanhedrin, and were acquainted with Pilate. Both were
men of wealth and influence. They were determined that the
body of Jesus should have an honorable burial. Joseph went
boldly to Pilate, and begged from him the body of Jesus...
"The
request of Joseph was granted. While John was troubled about
the burial of His Master, Joseph returned with Pilate's order
for the body of Christ; and Nicodemus came bringing a costly
mixture of myrrh and aloes, of about a hundred pounds' weight,
for His embalming. The most honored in all Jerusalem could
not have been shown more respect in death. The disciples were
astonished to see these wealthy rulers as much interested
as they themselves in the burial of their Lord" (The
Desire of Ages, pp. 772, 773).
Regarding
the Messiah, Isaiah had written, "And they made His grave
with the wicked-- but with the rich at His death" (Isaiah
53:9).
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