At the end of Matthew 27, we once again we see a stark contrast between how people react to Yeshua. Joseph of Arimathea boldly goes to Pilate to request Yeshua’s body, knowing full well that a whole crowd just called for His crucifixion when they shouted for Barabbas to be freed. Even Pilate was worried that the people would riot. Reflect for a few moments on how courageous and faithful Joseph was in his actions. He was also selfless in he gave up his own tomb to honor Christ.
By contrast, we can also see those who fear Christ even after they have murdered Him. They are not satisfied that He is dead, but now must ensure His name is also destroyed. They can only focus on the need to guard the tomb. They assume deception and treachery from Yeshua’s disciples. In truth it is a reflection of their own way of thinking and acting. The disciples were not crafty or deceitful. The chief priests and Pharisees were. The disciples did not plot and scheme or murder. Only the chief priests and Pharisees did that.
Jesus Is Buried
57When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. 58This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. 61And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the grave.
62Now on the next day, the day after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate, 63and said, “Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I am to rise again.’ 64“Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, otherwise His disciples may come and steal Him away and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” 65Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.” 66And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone.
We do not always have a choice for all things that may happen to us in our lives, but we do have a choice about how we react to it. Perhaps like Joseph we will face times when the crowd is against Yeshua and we have to make a decision whether we will be intimidated or be bold for Christ. Will we choose to follow Christ and put our trust in Him, even if it may be at our own personal risk? Or will we just be quiet and stay out of site? I pray the LORD helps me to be bold for Him.
I invite you to pray with me:
Father, please grant me a boldness to stand firmly for You even when the crowd is against You, as Joseph of Arimathea did. Amen.
Shalom
Devotion by John in service to Christ
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