March 27 – Matthew 27:57-61
Our Jesus, we praise You, for You are Salvation. You are Hope. You are Peace! We love You and want to draw near to You. Be with us as we come together to spend time with You and worship You.
Considering who the cross, crucifixion, was normally used for, what kind of burial do you think it also warranted? I did a quick bit of reading and found that the bodies were left there to rot or be eaten by animals. Yet, Romans were also known to release the bodies to be buried properly if friends or family requested it.
So, it would not have been an odd request for someone to do the same with Jesus’ body. But it wasn’t the Jewish community who requested it. And it wasn’t His friends or family who requested it, either. It was one man, as was God’s plan all along; take a look back to Isaiah 53:9 when you have a moment. The plan? That this wealthy man would come and offer a brand new, never before used tomb. How fitting, an undefiled resting place for the body of the perfect sacrifice, leaving no doubt that His rising could be anything other than divine work.
While the Jewish people wanted a burial typical of one who was crucified, this one man, God used to recognize who Jesus is and honor Him. What do we know of this man?
Mark 15:43- Honorable counselor, waiting for the Kingdom of God
Luke 23:50- Good and just man
Luke 23:51- Nobley set himself against the Sanhedrin and their wicked purposes.
John 19:38- A disciple of Jesus. Yet, because of his fear of the Jews, he did not openly follow Him.
And yet, here He is now! Defying the Jews’ wishes! He is unafraid, bold, and openly honoring Jesus now.
When we acknowledge Jesus for who He is, the Spirit works God’s perfect will through us. When we are obedient and do as God says, we will be bold. God had prepared Joseph for this moment. His wealth to gain access to Pilate, His just self had not followed the wrongdoings of the Sanhedrin, His honorable character, and able counsel as a member of the Sanhedrin. God had one specific job for Joseph, and he executed it with boldness and in obedience.
As we, too, prepare and wait for the Kingdom of God, may we be ready and willing to boldly do what God tells us to do. And may we do it graciously, well, and completely with the Spirit.
My Verse: Matthew 27:57-58, “When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him.”
My Response: Oh sweet Lord Jesus, how magnificent You are. I am so unworthy of all that You give and yet, You do it anyways. Because that is just who You are. Jesus, my life is nothing without You. Keep fear far away from me so that I can openly follow You with all that I am.
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Dear fellow study-ers, This is my last entry even though the study ends tomorrow. I’ll be speaking the next few days and will have limited to no access to my computer. However, please DO share what God showed you from the passage tomorrow and – if you could – share with us one thought from this study that “stuck” with you and also what will you be studying next? I’ll be eager to read your responses.
My verse today: Matthew 27:61 “Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb and watching.”
My response: Oh these loyal, loving women! They must have been exhausted and numb with grief, but they were there right to the sealing of the tomb, determined to see where Jesus was laid, so after Sabbath they could anoint the body. Oh the ache of this day, Lord! The tremendous cost of our salvation … thank You just feels so inadequate. But Thank You nonetheless.