REFLECTIONS

For the Love of Jesus

“But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.” (Luke 23:49)

Among those watching stood Joseph, a man from the Arimathea, a city of the Jews. Although a prominent member of Council, he had not voted to crucify Jesus. Like his good friend, Nicodemus, Joseph had secretly become a disciple of Jesus.

For his love of Jesus, Joseph’s heart ached helplessly when Jesus took his final breath. His wealth and prominent position had always been enough to satisfy his desires, but now? What could he do!

In preparation of his own death, Joseph had hewed a tomb near the crucifixion site. It had never been used; and Joseph could afford another one. Maybe his prominence on the Council could provide access to Governor Pilate, and perhaps a little influence too. So,

“…Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. …With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. (John 19:38-40)

For the love of Jesus, “Mary Magdalen, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, stood among the women who had followed [Jesus] from Galilee and from Jerusalem too. They observed the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.” (See Luke 23:55-56 NKJV)

Then, for the love of Jesus, “On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb….” (Luke 24:1…)

“You are the light of the world,”

Richard +

www.reflectingthesavior.org

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