I found myself face to face at the cross again in my quiet time this morning. I am using the book 90 with John to guide my bible reading and up until this morning, haven't really been understanding or hearing anything in particular. Today I read John 19:38-42. I have read this many times before, this morning it was different. The last few mornings I have read about the crucification and really pondered the thought that Jesus was beaten so badly that his appearance was disfigured. Normally, I don't ponder there to long, because honestly, I don't like to think about it, it makes me to sad. So in reading John 19:38-42, this was fresh in my mind.
"After these things Joesph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, the laid Jesus there."
I never gave much thought much about Joesph or Nicodemus being the 2 chosen to take care of the body. Before they were fearful of what people would think and now had to dig deep to be the ones to take care of Jesus' body. I wonder if Joesph was nervous when he had to approach Pilate. Did his voice crack when he asked? Then they had to take Jesus from the cross to the nearby garden, not forgetting that his body was a bloody mess. Was it just the 2 of them in the tomb? As difficult as it all must of been, how intimate of a time with Jesus in the face of death. I wonder if as they tenderly wrapped his broken body if the cloth and spices were intermingled with their tears. I wonder if they understood that it was for their sins and mine that Jesus had died for. My heart breaks as I imagine the scene in the tomb. It causes me to become very serious about the choices I make, at least for now. I pray that I won't soon forget this precious time with Christ. I wonder if they knew that in 3 days the cloths they wrapped Jesus in would lay empty. Scripture leads us to believe they didn't. As I read I couldn't resist going to John 11:43:44~"Lazarus, come out."....."Unbind him, and let him go."
It is taken care of. Death does not rule any longer and I am so grateful. How precious is the blood of Christ. Though my sins are as black as the shirt I wear as I type, I have been washed as white as snow. Praise God for His wonderful mercy.
Humbled,
Connie
