Lenten Devotion (Easter Even) for 23 April 2011 Anno Domini

Lenten Devotion (Easter Even) for 23 April 2011 Anno Domini
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. (John 19:38-42)

Pilate was, by the common standard, a fairly decent fellow, but he feared the Jews and lack courage. He turned to political correctness in the time of judgment instead of righteous judgment. Unfortunately, the common standard does not qualify for salvation. In the end, Pilate was a lost soul. Knowing Christ to be innocent, he nonetheless allowed injustice to be done when he had the power to disallow it.
Christ languished on the Cross until the ninth hour (3 PM) at which time He gave up the ghost. The Sabbath would begin at sundown, so the Jews prevailed upon Pilate to have the bodies removed prior to that time so as not to defile the Sabbath.

“ 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. 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.” (John 19:38-39)
We may observe that Joseph of Arimathaea was a good man and a counselor. He had also been a secret follower of Christ since his position would have been in jeopardy had the knowledge of his discipleship become public. But now, at the moment of greatest danger, he no longer remains a secret follower, but a public one. He even goes to the Roman administrator, Pontius Pilate, to beg the body of Christ which was granted. Another came with him, by name, Nicodemus – the one who previously came at night, but now openly. When our faith becomes strong, we are no longer ashamed to proclaim our faith in Christ. He was buried in the grave of the wealthy.
“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. 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. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.” (John 19:40-42)
All things concerning Christ were prophesied hundreds of years earlier – His birth, His Life, His death on the cross, His burial, and His resurrection:
“6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. (Isaiah 53:6-9)
On this particular Sabbath, two thousand years ago, Christ did indeed rest in the Tomb. Even in death, He obeyed and fulfilled the Old Testament Sabbath Law that we might enjoy an eternal Sabbath rest in Him, for He is not only our Passover, but our Sabbath as well.
There is an old saying that the greatest silence is just before the storm. I believe it. The greatest event in the history of the world is about to transpire around the silence of a Tomb! Who would suspect that the Tomb, being a place for the dead, would become the source of Life Eternal through a risen Savior? The disciples, fearful and devastated, are in hiding. All there hopes were centered on a limited knowledge of who and what Christ was. Soon those doubts and fears will turn to joy and courage beyond anything the world has seen before. We wait and watch. The Great Gift is about to be Given……….