Joseph Begs for Jesus' Body - Matthew 27:58

Matthew the apostle wrote, “When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple”, and in chapter twenty-seven and verse fifty-eight of his book, Matthew wrote how, Joseph of Arimathaea, “went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus“” where we read:

He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.

The verse reads, “He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.” Matthew began words, “He went to Pilate” which means “Joseph of Arimathaea appeared before Pilate whose name means armed with a spear and was the sixth Roman procurator of Judah and Samaria who ordered Christ to be crucified”, “and begged” which means “and craved, desired and required” “the body of Jesus” or “Jesus' physical body”. Matthew shared how “Joseph of Arimathaea” desired to obtain Jesus' dead body.

The verse continues, “Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.” Matthew added the words, “then Pilate” or “at that time Pilate the sixth Roman procurator of Judah and Samaria” “commanded the body” which means “ordered and incited by his word for Jesus' physical body” “to be delivered” or “to be discharged and produced”. Matthew shared how “Pilate” “ordered” Jesus' “body” to be given to Joseph.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we understand the compassion “Joseph of Arimathaea” had for this situation. Though he was not able to “save” Jesus from dying, he could obtain His body by appealing to Pilate. Joseph, who was one of Jesus' disciples, did what he could do, and those who are wise will follow Joseph's example and submit themselves to Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”.

Next time Matthew shares what happened, “when Joseph had taken the body”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".