April 23Mark 15:42-47The Burial of Jesus
These verses of Mark are found immediately following Jesus' death on the cross. Jesus died a few hours before sundown on Friday and Jewish law prevented anyone from doing work or traveling on the Sabbath.
Joseph of Arimathea, a Jewish leader and secret follower of Jesus, went to Pilate to ask for Jesus' body. Pilate was surprised to learn that Jesus had died already and gave the body to Joseph. Joseph then took Jesus' body, wrapped it in linen and placed it in a tomb. After that, Joseph sealed the tomb with a large rock. Mary Magdalene and Mary watched as Joseph sealed the body.
In thinking about this passage, I am first struck by Joseph's actions. Joseph was an honored Jewish leader who secretly followed Jesus. He took a huge risk by going to Pilate to ask for Jesus' body and then preparing the body for burial. If any of Joseph's Jewish colleagues saw him with Jesus' body, Joseph would certainly have had a lot of explaining to do. Joseph did what he knew was right. For him, the reward, knowing Jesus received a proper burial, was greater than the risk to his reputation.
How many times do we take a risk to do what is right? If you're like me, more often than not, you shy away from a risk because you're fearful of the consequences. The consequences, real or imagined, outweigh the reward in our minds. I think this passage is showing us that sometimes we have to take a risk for what we believe in. If Joseph did not risk his image by doing what was right, Jesus' body may have been taken by the Romans or he may not have received a proper burial. Without Joseph's simple action, the outcome of the Easter story may have been entirely different. Joseph did what he could for Jesus.
Jeremy Szoc | 
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