February 1, 2024 Coffeeville First Baptist Church By Craig Baker, Pastor

Have you ever been in a situation or gotten some news that was so shocking you just knew it could not be true? Then when you found out it was true your head was filled with thoughts of what do I do now? What does this mean for my life? How will I go on? Those thoughts probably sum up what was going through the minds of the twelve disciples when they learned of Jesus’ death. They had come to realize that Jesus was the Messiah, and even though Jesus had told them on a few occasions about His coming death, they likely thought there was no way that would happen, but it did happen. Their arrival in Jerusalem had begun with excitement and celebration as Jesus rode into Jerusalem to the praise and adoration of the crowd, but things changed suddenly. In just four short days the crowds had gone from praising Jesus to demanding He be executed, and that is exactly what happened. Mark 15:37 tells us that just a few hours after being the cross, Jesus cried out with a loud voice and breathed His last. Throughout Marks gospel we have been given a glimpse into the life and ministry of Jesus, a life of miracles and truth that convicted and convinced those around Him that He truly was the Son of God. Now, the unthinkable had happened. Jesus was dead. His lifeless, naked, bloody, beaten body drooped down hanging from the cross. With the spectacle over, I have no doubt that many returned to their homes. Perhaps most fled from the scene when darkness covered the earth. Either way, where there was a scene of people shouting slandering accusations and ridicule at Jesus, I imagine there is now only silence as death has taken hold. Not all who were there to witness Jesus’ crucifixion were hostile towards Him. Mark tells us that some of His supporters, particularly a group of women, watched from afar. We also know that the Apostle John was present at least in the beginning. I imagine after Jesus’ death they stood there in sorrow and mourning wondering what to do with His body. They surely would not just leave His body there to be tossed in the mass grave or left out to rot by the Roman soldiers. The least they could do for Jesus, the man who had done so much for them, was to give Him the proper burial, but how? They had not come to Jerusalem prepared for a funeral and finding a tomb and preparing the body would take time that they did not have for Mark 15:42 tells us, it was the day of preparation, the day before the Passover Sabbath. We would think that the twelve disciples would have come to claim Jesus’ body, but they were hiding in fear. It seemed there was no one to bury Jesus. However, in Mark 15:43 we read of the most unlikely person who came to claim Jesus’ body, a man known as Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the very council that had Jesus arrested and then instigated the crowd to demand His execution. The gospel accounts tell us that Joseph of Arimathea was a disciple of Jesus, a man who was waiting on the kingdom of God. Some wonder why Joseph did not stand up to the council or speak out in Jesus’ defense. However, I believe God prepared Joseph for this time to be able to minister to Jesus in a special way, not in life but in death. You see, Joseph was a rich man who already had his personal tomb prepared. He had the means and the place to give Jesus a quick burial. Despite what Joseph may or may not have done in the past, he made a bold move and went to Pilate to ask permission to bury Jesus. This would have certainly caused Joseph some issues with the other council members. We are told that Joseph along with another member of the council named Nicodemus, who we are introduced to in John 3, came to bury Jesus. Jesus died at 3pm, so there is a sense of urgency because they must be done before the end of day at 6pm. At 6pm the next day would begin which was the Passover Sabbath. We count our days from midnight to midnight, but the Jews counted their days from 6pm in the evening until 6pm the next evening. The night was from 6pm to 6am then the day was 6am to 6pm. Joseph and Nicodemus had less than 3 hours to get Jesus off the cross, cleaned up and prepared for burial, transported to the tomb, placed and sealed in the tomb, and then clean themselves up before the Passover Sabbath began at 6pm. Imagine for a moment how gruesome the task was. They had to climb up to remove the spikes from Jesus’ wrists. They either had to pry the spikes out or pry His wrists off the spikes. Then do the same with His feet while keeping His body from falling to the ground. Then they had to lower His mangled body to the ground, water and blood poured from His wounds. They had to remove the crown of thorns that had been pressed into His head. John tells us that Nicodemus brought 75 pounds of burial spices, so after they washed Jesus’ body they would have completely wrapped up the body with the spices using strips of cloth. The events of the day had been horrible, and burying Jesus was certainly a daunting task Joseph and Nicodemus took upon themselves. By identifying with Jesus, they certainly would have been expelled from their positions on the Jewish council. Many of their friends, fellow council members, and likely even some family members would cut ties with them. Perhaps they would be labeled rebels and enemies of Caesar. By touching a corpse, they made themselves unclean for seven days, and therefore unable to participate in the Passover celebration and Feast of Unleavened Bread that followed. That was a huge deal because both were major annual celebrations for the Jews. Imagine if you had to isolate yourself from everyone and be excluded from taking part in anything to do with Christmas. The burial of Jesus does not seem all that spectacular to us because we know what happens in Mark 16, but Joseph and Nicodemus had not idea. They weren’t looking to get in good with Jesus. For all they knew He was gone forever. They risked their lives and livelihood for a corpse because it was time to take a stand and do what was right. In this sinful and corrupt society we live in, how will you stand for Jesus?