John 19:38-40 "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."
Joseph and Nicodemus were following the normal procedure for preparing the body
for burial. In this case, they had to do it quickly because it was the time of
Passover. There was no physical labor that could be done after the beginning of
the sabbath. This was a particularly important one because it was the
celebration of God's great deliverance of the people of Israel from Egyptian
bondage. They quickly wrapped the body with the spices with the intention of
coming back on the first day of the week to complete the proper preparation for
burial.
We find two men who went to Pilate and asked permission to do this work on the
body of Jesus. Joseph of Arimathaea donated his unused tomb (sepulchre) to be
used as the burial plot for Jesus. Some believe this Joseph to have been a
priest and a member of the Sanhedrin court. John gives us the insight
concerning him that he was a "disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of
the Jews." He came readily to ask for the body and to make
preparations to lay it in his own tomb. Though he had been a secret
disciple to this point, now he was bold in seeking for Jesus' body.
Along with Joseph was another member of the Pharisees who was described back in
Chapter three as a "ruler of the Jews." If you remember, this man
came to Jesus by night because he also feared what might happen to him if he
was seen publicly speaking to Jesus. We know more about Nicodemus because of
the beautiful discussion that took place with Jesus. Though he came to Jesus by
night in this first encounter, we find him in chapter 7 being somewhat more
bold in his defense of Jesus. He has apparently given much thought to the words
of Jesus and has grown in his understanding. Now we find Nicodemus in chapter
19 going with Joseph to beg Pilate for the body of Jesus.
My thoughts in today's verses come to this conclusion: We grow spiritually as
we spend more time in meditation upon the things of the Lord. We grow in grace
as we ponder the blessed truth of perfection that is found in Jesus. We grow in
grace as we ponder our own inability to bring ourselves out of the depraved
nature in which our sin has plunged us. We grow in grace as we come to
the conclusion that we can do nothing without Jesus. Nicodemus came initially
in darkness, but was brought to the light of truth in Christ.
So now, I ask myself if I am content with my place of knowledge and
understanding of the Word of God? Am I complacent about where I am in my
spiritual walk? Do I have a desire to grow? I pray I will always be found
at the state of life where I am learning and experiencing the grace of my Lord.