When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who was himself a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be handed over. Taking the body, Joseph wrapped it in clean linen and laid it in his new tomb that he had hewn in the rock. then he rolled a huge stone across the entrance to the tomb and departed.–Matthew 27:57-60
What must have been going through the mind of Joseph of Arimathea as he was preparing Jesus’ body to be laid in the tomb? Was this the end of Jesus, or was this just another in a long line of mundane tasks that he was used to performing? Did he have any inkling that this buriel would be different from every other one in history? Did he know that all his efforts to care for and preserve this dead body would be moot? If he had, surely he wouldn’t have gone to so much trouble?
We don’t always know what God is up to in our lives, but we can always rest, secure in the fact that whatever he is doing is always in our best interests. When we are obedient to him, blessings come our way everytime.
Lord, as your people, we are caretakers of your story. We are your witnesses to the world that the story of Jesus is the hope of the world. Lord, may we never forget what you have done for us, and may we always remember to live our lives reflecting the power you paid for us to have.
Dave for Wellspring © 2008
