What an immensely interesting Passage of Scripture, our current Paragraph, John 19:38-42 …
“38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. 39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. 40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. 42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.”
Jesus, speaking of His Cross, once said: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” (John 12:32) And soon as He died … two notable men were “drawn” unto Him! Among the first … Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea!
Matthew 27:57 tells us that Joseph (who buried Jesus) was “rich!” Thus fulfilling Isaiah 53:9 … “And he (Jesus) made his grave with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.” Amazing!
Nicodemus, such a colorful Bible character, is only mentioned (just 3 times) by John, in his written Gospel! (You can see his faith blossom and grow in each successive incident!)
John 3:1-2 … “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest …”
John 7:50-52 … “Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth? They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.”
John 19:39 … “And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.”
One writer said this of the Resurrection of Jesus …
The Resurrection … “the biggest surprise in history!”
I wonder. Did Nicodemus, as he helped bury Jesus … recall the Lord using these words? “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.” John 3:14
Jesus, buried like a King? Here’s one example, King Asa of Judah …
2 Chronicles 16:14 … “And they buried him in his own sepulchre, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries’ art: and they made a very great burning for him.”
Nicodemus and Jospeh … both members of the Sanhedrin who disagreed with the High Priest’s decision to crucify Jesus, formed a bond that reminds me of Proverbs 27:17 … “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” They were good for each other!
I did not know this. “It was common for disciples to plan and arrange the burial of their revered teachers!”
Jesus was buried in a tomb never used by any human! And earlier that same week He rode into Jerusalem on a little donkey no man had ever ridden!
Mark 11:2 paralleled by Luke 19:30 … “And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.”
… then …
Luke 23:53 … And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
Worthy is the Lamb!
One more thought … these two (brave) men were certainly serving the Lord (the Cause of Christ) by burying Jesus in such an honorable manner. Surely God blessed them for such gallant efforts!
John 12:26 … If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
Watch the video class now, if at all possible …
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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