John 19:38-42
Today's Passage: John 19:38-42
John 19:38-42 begins where it was finished - at the foot of the cross. The limp, dead savior of the world hanging there, pierced and unrecognizable. The disciples are scattered. The world seems dark. Jesus has fulfilled scripture, but in grief and fear, no one can see beyond the scene of the crucifixion. Chapter 19 verse 37 reiterates the fulfillment of scripture, and verses 38 and 39 introduce/reintroduce us to two hesitant disciples.
It was Roman custom to either leave crucified criminals on the cross to be eaten by animals or to throw their bodies into an unmarked grave. Because of the Passover season, the Jews did not want this horror hanging over them. When Joseph of Arimathea goes to Pilate secretly, he is expressing his desire to glorify Jesus in his burial.
“So he came and took away his body.” Joseph of Arimathea was a wealthy, influential man, and so was Nicodemus. They could have paid for someone else to handle the bloody body of Jesus, but in obedience they took Jesus’ body off the cross and showed him dignity in preparing his body and placing it in the tomb.
The last time we saw Nicodemus was in John 3 when Jesus explained to him what it meant to be born again. Jesus told him that “as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” Nicodemus was the one to hear John 3:16. Jesus called him to walk in obedience and in light, but Nicodemus walked away. Jesus said that he would be lifted up, but that did not make sense until Nicodemus saw him on the wooden beams of the cross. Nicodemus was changed by his view of the cross. He originally walked away, refusing to be changed and made new, but now he expresses devotion to Jesus by doing the bloody work of preparing his body for the tomb.
Joseph and Nicodemus did the emotional and physically taxing task of carrying Jesus’ body to the tomb, cleaning it, and wrapping it and placing it in the tomb. They gave their all to Jesus at this moment. They even gave up their finances as Nicodemus purchased 75 pounds of spices to prepare Jesus’ body, and Joseph gave up his own tomb. Joseph had invested in this tomb so that he would be laid in it one day, but he gave it to Jesus, giving Jesus more glory than himself.
They did all of this expecting nothing in return. They did not know that Jesus would rise from the dead, but they knew that he was worthy of their all. The cross shows us the fullness of Jesus’ sacrifice. Unlike these hesitant disciples, we have a full picture of what Jesus was doing at this moment. We see the resurrection and that Jesus would continue to be glorified and lifted up so that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
How have you given your all to Christ? Physically, emotionally, financially, spiritually? How are you looking to the cross and resurrection daily to change you?
Written By: Paulette Black
John 19:38-42 begins where it was finished - at the foot of the cross. The limp, dead savior of the world hanging there, pierced and unrecognizable. The disciples are scattered. The world seems dark. Jesus has fulfilled scripture, but in grief and fear, no one can see beyond the scene of the crucifixion. Chapter 19 verse 37 reiterates the fulfillment of scripture, and verses 38 and 39 introduce/reintroduce us to two hesitant disciples.
It was Roman custom to either leave crucified criminals on the cross to be eaten by animals or to throw their bodies into an unmarked grave. Because of the Passover season, the Jews did not want this horror hanging over them. When Joseph of Arimathea goes to Pilate secretly, he is expressing his desire to glorify Jesus in his burial.
“So he came and took away his body.” Joseph of Arimathea was a wealthy, influential man, and so was Nicodemus. They could have paid for someone else to handle the bloody body of Jesus, but in obedience they took Jesus’ body off the cross and showed him dignity in preparing his body and placing it in the tomb.
The last time we saw Nicodemus was in John 3 when Jesus explained to him what it meant to be born again. Jesus told him that “as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” Nicodemus was the one to hear John 3:16. Jesus called him to walk in obedience and in light, but Nicodemus walked away. Jesus said that he would be lifted up, but that did not make sense until Nicodemus saw him on the wooden beams of the cross. Nicodemus was changed by his view of the cross. He originally walked away, refusing to be changed and made new, but now he expresses devotion to Jesus by doing the bloody work of preparing his body for the tomb.
Joseph and Nicodemus did the emotional and physically taxing task of carrying Jesus’ body to the tomb, cleaning it, and wrapping it and placing it in the tomb. They gave their all to Jesus at this moment. They even gave up their finances as Nicodemus purchased 75 pounds of spices to prepare Jesus’ body, and Joseph gave up his own tomb. Joseph had invested in this tomb so that he would be laid in it one day, but he gave it to Jesus, giving Jesus more glory than himself.
They did all of this expecting nothing in return. They did not know that Jesus would rise from the dead, but they knew that he was worthy of their all. The cross shows us the fullness of Jesus’ sacrifice. Unlike these hesitant disciples, we have a full picture of what Jesus was doing at this moment. We see the resurrection and that Jesus would continue to be glorified and lifted up so that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
How have you given your all to Christ? Physically, emotionally, financially, spiritually? How are you looking to the cross and resurrection daily to change you?
Written By: Paulette Black
1 Comment
Great blog post about Joseph and Nicodemus. What is also amazing is that Jesus's death fulfilled all of the old testament scriptures. I have enjoyed the Jumpstart study on the book of John.