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Day 36 John 19:38-42 John 19:38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. 39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pound weight. 40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulcher, wherein was never man yet laid. 42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulcher was nigh at hand. Depending where you live, your loved ones might not be buried immediately when they die, but the body stored until the ground is soft enough to bury your loved ones. This happens in harsh winter climates. It wasn’t winter, yet Jesus didn’t have his own burial tomb. It was the beginning of the Sabbath and Passover. His disciples needed to bury Jesus before sunset, and went to Pilate requesting permission to bury Him. It was Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb where they laid His body. Matthew 27:57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: 58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. 59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher, and departed. As Christians, you know it was temporary. Jesus needed to borrow the tomb for three days. However, the disciples didn’t know it was temporary. They were filled with sorrow over Jesus’ death. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus followed the traditions of burial adding a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes to the burial cloth. When a person dies, there are many traditions one goes through from body preparation to the funeral ceremony. When they buried Jesus, there wasn’t time to take care of all the formalities, and only wrapped the body with spices and closed the tomb, intending to give Him a proper burial after the Sabbath. As Christians, you know death is temporary. It is the passage from this life to eternity. Jesus waits for His saints to usher them into His kingdom, and there will we ever be with our Lord. Let’s pray: Father, thank you for the death of Your Son, Jesus because it gives me hope in the temporary nature of death and I will see You when I pass from this life into eternity. Help me look forward to the day when I see You and those who have gone before. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 7 January 2019 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay