When Jesus cried "It is Finished" and the Roman soldier declared that He was the Son of God, the evening was approaching. Since it was the the preparation , or day before the Sabbath, the Lord's body had to be taken down quickly, due to the law. No one was allowed to do any servtile work on the Sabbath. His body needed burying. This need was Providentially provided by the Father for His Son. Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Sanhedrian group, honorable counsellor and secret disciple of Jesus came to Pilate. Mark 15:43 says that he "went in BOLDLY unto Pilate, and CRAVED the body of Jesus." Now that His Lord had been crucified, he was no longer in fear of the Jewish council. He boldly professed his love and faith in Jesus as Lord. Sadly, sometimes it takes tragedy or problems to soften our hearts and give us the holy boldness we need for Jesus. Verse 43 also tells us he "waited for the kingdom of God, " which meant he was living for the Lord and believed on Him, but was a secret believer. God NEVER wants us to be a SECRET AGENT! We should boldly take a stand for the Lord. Proverbs 28:1 says, "The wicked flee when no man pursueth, BUT THE RIGHTEOUS ARE BOLD AS A LION." If we trust Jesus for His help, He will give us His boldness! When we openly take a stand for the Lord, we will encourage others that may have been sitting quietly as well. John 19:39 also states another secret disciple, Nicodemus, that first came to Jesus to talk to Him by night, came with Joseph. Joseph's now bold stand encouraged Nicodemus to come forth as well. Who are you influencing? Someone is ALWAYS WATCHING YOU! Believers are either watching you for example, or unbelievers just to see what you will do! We need to stand boldly for our Lord and help each other to do the same as well. "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering;( for He is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works:".
Joseph also CRAVED the body of Jesus, Mark 15:43. He knew this is what He was supposed to do. God put this desire in his heart so strongly that he would do so. What are you craving? Galatians 5:16 says to .."Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." Are we craving the things of God, or of the world? We will never be as strong as we should be spiritually if we feed on the world's "junk" food instead of God's spiritual Manna. "For he that soweth to his flesh SHALL of the flesh reap CORRUPTION; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap LIFE EVERLASTING!" Galatians 6:8. Just as what we physically crave and feed on affects our health, what we feed upon Spiritually or Fleshly will affect our Spiritual health as well.
After the two men were given leave of Pilate to take the body of Jesus, they wrapped it with fine linen and spices and placed it in Joseph's own tomb he had prepared. It was hewn out of rock and had never had anyone inside, (Mark 16:46, Matthew 27:59&60, Luke 23:53). The women that followed Jesus from Galilee also went with them and saw where they laid his body, (Luke 23:55). They returned home upon the dawning of the Sabbath and prepared spices to bring back after the Sabbath to finish the Jewish burial custom, since it was done in haste because of the Sabbath's dawning.
"Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them." Mark names some of the women as Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James (Jesus cousin), and Salome-Mary the mother of Jesus' sister.) So two of the women were Jesus' aunts. As they went, they wondered who would roll the stone away for them. But when they arrived, "they saw the stone rolled away:for it was great." (Mark 16:4). Upon entering the tomb, there was an angel that told them, "Be not affighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: He is risen; He is NOT HERE: behold the place where they laid Him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee;there shall ye see him, as he said unto you."(Mark 16:6&7). They ladies left, and Mary Magdalene went to tell the disciples as they were told to. She returned with Peter and John. John made it to the tomb first, but stooped down to look inside, but did not enter in. Peter came next, but entered the tomb. When he did, he saw that the tomb was empty, and HOW the linen clothes were lying. "And the napkin, that was about His head, not lying with the linen clothes, but WRAPPED TOGETHER IN A PLACE BY ITSELF, "John 20:7. The napkin was used in burial to cover the face and tie the chin up to keep it closed in Jewish burial custom. This was the same kind used as mentioned on Lazarus in John 11:44. This napkin was wrapped together in a place by itself. When Jesus resurrected, He LOOSED THE GRAVE CLOTHES HIMSELF. He had been wound in the linens now laying by themselves. HE REMOVED THE FACE NAPKIN HIMSELF WHEN HE AROSE! This is why they were separated. He didn't disappear out of the clothes! He literally got up and loosed Himself! When Lazarus arose, he was still bound, hand and foot, and the napkin still over his face, because he didn't have the power to resurrect or free himself. JESUS DID! PRAISE THE LORD! "Whom God hath raised up HAVING LOOSED the pains of death; because it WAS NOT POSSIBLE that He should be holden of it." Acts 2:24. "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" I Corinthians 15:55.
After the disciples returned, Mary Magadalene stayed behind weeping at the tomb. As she did so, she stooped down and looked in the tomb again. She saw two angels clothed in white, sitting at the head and foot where Jesus had lain. They asked her," Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord and I know not where they have laid him.", still not fully understanding what had happened. (John 19:12&13). When she turned around, Jesus was there behind her, but she did not know it was Him, being risen in a glorified body. He asked her, "Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?"(John 19:15). Supposing Him to be the gardener, she asked Him to tell her where He had taken Him if He had moved Him, so she could take Him away. Then "Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself and, and saith unto Him, Rabboni, which is to say Master." (John 19:16). As soon as Jesus spoke her name, she knew it was Him. John 10:27 says, "My sheep HEAR MY VOICE, and I know them, and they follow me." When Jesus calls our name, or speaks to us, WE KNOW IT IS HIM! There is no mistaking His voice. And just as we know His voice, He knows OUR NAME! Praise the Lord the God of Heaven knows each one of His children by name, and calls to each of us! He spoke peace to Mary Magdalene so long ago, and He will speak peace to us in our time of sorrow. Just as He wanted to let her know He was still there with her, He wants us to know that "...I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5). What a loving, comforting Saviour we have!
Jesus instructed Mary to return again and let the disciples know she had talked to Him! I can only imagine the joy she felt as she ran to tell Peter, John, and the other disciples that she had talked to the Risen Saviour! Thank God, that just as she had talked to Him, we STILL CAN TODAY! Our Saviour now sits at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for us (Heb.4:14-16). He wants to speak to us just as He did Mary that day. We should "pray without ceasing" (I Thessalonians 5:17) to our Lord. We need to read His Word daily so He can do so. If we don't spend time talking to the Lord, and listening to Him speak to us, how will be have the faith, boldness, and message we need to tell others, just as Mary Magdalene did?
Easter, first called so in Acts 12:4, is not just one day a year for a believer, but EVERYDAY! BECAUSE HE LIVES, WE CAN FACE TOMORROW! "..if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins... But now is Christ risen from the dead... (I Corinth. 15:17 & 20). Praise the Lord He lives! Everyday WE should LIVE FOR HIM! Let us Crave Him, Boldly stand for Him, Seek Him everyday, talk to Him, and listen as He speaks to us daily. Have you talked to Him today?
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