Joseph Caring for Jesus' Body - Luke 23:53

Luke the beloved physician wrote how, “there was a man named Joseph, a counselor; and he was a good man, and a just. (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus”, and in chapter twenty-three and verse fifty-three of his book Luke shared how Joseph of Arimathaea took Jesus' body, “wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulcher” where we read:

And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulcher that was hewn in stone,

wherein never man before was laid.

The verse reads, “And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulcher that was hewn in stone, ...” Luke began with the words, “And he took it down” or “and Joseph lowered and pulled down the body of Jesus from the cross”, “and wrapped it in linen” which means “and rolled and entwined the body of Jesus within fine bleached cloth”, “and laid it in a sepulcher” or “and placed and lay down Jesus' body within a tomb or grave” “that was hewn in stone” which means “that was cut out or rock-quarried”. Luke shared how Joseph lowered Jesus' body from the cross and “rolled” His body in “fine linen cloth” before placing it within a “rock-quarried” grave.

The verse continues, “... wherein never man before was laid.” Luke added the words, “wherein never man” which means “where no person whether male or female” “before was laid” or “prior to Jesus had been placed or laid down”. Luke shared how Joseph placed Jesus in the “rock-quarried” grave where not other person had ever been “laid” or “buried”.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how Joseph cared for the body of Jesus. He “wrapped” His body in “fine cloth” and “laid” it within a tomb where no person was ever placed before. This was God's plan being fulfilled, and now that Jesus was “dead”, His body was to be buried and cared for by one who believed in Him. God offers forgiveness of sins through the death of His Son Jesus, and although His body was indeed “buried” by Joseph, He was not to stay in the tomb. Jesus was raised three days later as we shall learn, but for now, let all who read these words know Jesus went through all these things so they might be “saved”.

Next time Luke shares how, “that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on”, 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".