Luke records,
“Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God.
Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body.
Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid.
It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it.
Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.”
Luke 23:50-56
Matthew records
“As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.
Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.”
Matthew 27:57-61
I have no doubt that this was the lowest point in the lives of the believers.
They had sat under the teachings of Jesus for the better part of three years yet they still didn’t understand the full ramifications of what he had said.
They were human and at this point in time had no comprehension about the resurrection.
They were in deep mourning for the lost of a friend and a teacher.
Sometime ago a man wrote the following. I think is sums up the life of Jesus and what Joseph and Mary the mother of Christ who had been with him from the beginning might have felt.
Images of Love
MaryWhat would she do now? Her mind vacillated, uncontrollably between joy and uncertainty. She could hide it, at least for a while. But, then tongues would wag. It was a small village. Everyone knew everyone. Word of her condition would spread along the gossip highway. She’d be disgraced!
Still she knew it was of God and deep inside she knew it would all work out.
Then she thought Joseph! ... what of her fiancé? He’d have no choice, but to let her go. He hadn’t done a thing, yet, he’d get the blame. Just for the sake of his reputation, she’d have to go. She’d have to face this alone. For a moment, her racing mind slowed, as she thought about what she’d been told. ELIZABETH! Elizabeth. The angel had said Elizabeth was with child. She would understand, she would know what to do. She’d go to Elizabeth.
Joseph
PREGNANT. What has she done! How could she have done such a thing! He loved her. He thought she loved him...
For a moment, his mind became a whirling dervish of thoughts and emotions out of control.
How could she bring such a disgrace down on both of them, like this. How was it possible...
Then as suddenly as it started, the tirade in his mind abated, allowing the love he felt for her to surface. Despite what she had apparently done, he still loved her. Yet, her condition seemed to say, she did not love him.
Perhaps, by divorcing her quietly, it would make it easier for her. Joseph lay back on his bed and fell asleep.
O what joyous night! What blessed revelation! What blessed assurance! He would make Mary, his wife! Just as the angel had commanded. Together, they would rejoice that Mary had been chosen to give birth to the Messiah.
Together, they would rejoice with the shepherds, as they told of the visit from the heavenly host.
They would give praises to God with Simeon and Anna, as they gave thanks for the fulfillment of His promise to Israel!
They would make haste fleeing along the dusty roads to Egypt.
Mary, would feel the anguish of a mother watching her own son die in agony on a Gentile cross under a blackened sky.
She would also experience the elation of the empty tomb, the resurrection of her LORD and the love of her God.
Have you?
Think about it.
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