Easter Sunday.
The Collect.
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LMIGHTY God, who through thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life; We humbly beseech thee that, as by thy special grace preventing us thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.
¶ This Collect is to be said daily throughout Easter Week.
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HEN the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: 58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. 59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the
During the Holy Week we studied of events leading up to the Crucifixion of Christ – the triumphal entry of Christ into the City of Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the woman who poured expensive oils upon Jesus ant Bethany in preparation for His death (Matthew 26:7-3), the plot of the Jewish rulers to put Christ to death, the betrayal of Judas, the mock trial before the Sanhedrin and the court of the Proconsul, Pontius Pilate, and the crucifixion itself.
The Jewish leaders, inspired by their father the devil, have carried out their plan of murder of the Son of God. They gloat over their presumed success, but their gloating will be turned to despair and worry.
57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple
Joseph was not only a rich man, but a prominent leader and counselor among the Jews. We read from John: 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.(John 19:38)
In Mark we read: 43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
We are told in the 58th verse Joseph begged the body of Christ, and in Mark he craved it. Have we begged or craved to possess Christ in His fullness? It should be the obsession of every professing Christian to crave Christ, to beg in prayer to have Him as Friend, as Lord, as Savior, and as Constant Counsellor.
Joseph was a secret disciple of Christ, but in the Body of Christ, we have no clandestine professors – we are either for Christ openly, or we are not for Christ. At the moment of crucifixion, seeing that Christ was faithful to His Word to the end, Joseph realized his weakness and went publicly at the time of greatest danger, to beg the body of Christ.
Joseph did not come alone, for he had with him that disciple that came by night to Christ out of political fear – Nicodemus, who was likewise emboldened by the crucifixion to come publicly to be numbered among the disciples.
I hope we have no secret disciples of Christ among the precious young people of St Andrews!
59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
The body of Christ was wrapped in the same way as that of Lazarus. But the risen Christ needed no man to remove His grave clothes, as did Lazarus, to be set free. Furthermore, Christ did not require the voice of God from outside the Tomb to call Him forth as did Lazarus – the Voice was from within.
The tomb belonged to Joseph. 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 19:41-42)
This was fulfillment of Isaiah 53:9 - 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
Jesus was crucified between two thieves – one, repentant, the other rebellious.
No man had ever before lain in this tomb. It was a BORROWED Tomb for Christ would need it only for a few hours.
It is interesting to note Jesus was provided shelter in a manger at his birth by a man named Joseph, son of Heli, and husband to Mary, the mother of Jesus. And now, at the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus is again provided a shelter by another Joseph for His dead body.
Since the occupation of the tomb by Christ was only temporary, we can know that our sojourn in the grave will be temporary as well. As St Paul says; the twinkling of an eye.
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Cor 15:52)
There are two Marys watching over Christ even to the end. They were at the Cross until the end, and they watch at the burial until the end – Mary Magdalene and Mary of Bethany who was ever at the feet of Christ.
61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.
Will our end of days find us watching Christ until that end comes?
62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, 63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
This is evidence that the Jewish rulers had paid close attention to every Word of Christ. They, moreover, knew the prophecies and were without excuse as to ignorance.
Now, they are worried and want to insure that the Man whom they have so treacherously murdered, stays dead and in the tomb.
64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first
Every day in America men are running to the governor to request that all mention of Christ be abandoned – that there be no prayer allowed, no Holy Days acknowledged, and no expressions of faith allowed on any public square. Such men want to insure that Christ remains buried.
But no such whimsical notions can be realized. There was no power on earth that could keep Christ in the Tomb.
65.Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. 66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch
“As she as they could” was not sure enough. No man can stop the power of God.
They placed the seal of the Roman Authority on the Tomb and set guards at watch. Here the government is complicit with the devil to staunch the resurrection just as the government of today attempts the same vile effort.
Now, we shall await the rolling of the Stone away by Angels of God. Now we shall await the coming forth of the Son of God in victory and triumph. Shall you make His triumphant resurrection your own in Him?
