SATURDAY April 19, 2025

The Garden Tomb

Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus.
Matthew 27:57

Jesus suffered tremendously on the Cross. When He yielded up His spirit, the veil in the temple was torn in two, the earth shook, rocks were split, graves opened, and the bodies of some of the saints who had died were raised. The centurion and those with him who saw these things, were afraid, and said: “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:51-54).

Among the Sanhedrin, the Jewish religious leaders, were two secret disciples of Jesus Christ: Nicodemus, who had privately spoken to Jesus at the onset of His ministry, and Joseph of Arimathea, a very wealthy man who asked Pilate for Jesus’ body:

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).

The Scriptures reveal the love and dedication of both disciples for their Lord after His death. They made sure to follow the strict rules for a Jewish burial. Jesus would be buried the same day in accordance with their Jewish customs:

...Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds ... 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 (John 19:39-40).

These bold actions revealed their Christian faith, openly. Their faith was no longer a hidden secret. They knew the Jewish leaders would reject them, but as Christ’s disciples, they counted the cost; that was all that mattered. Nearby was Joseph’s own, purchased garden tomb. Carefully, they placed the bruised body of Jesus there (Matthew 27:59-60; John 19:38-42).

Are you willing to count the cost and follow Jesus?

Salvation is free, but discipleship costs everything we have.
~Billy Graham~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!