Luke 23:50-53
Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid.
Not everyone was against Jesus.
We’ve already seen that many in the crowds, and even one of those crucified with him, sympathized with Jesus. And now we hear of another, Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the council that tried Jesus and found him guilty, yet who did not agree with that judgment.
Joseph is nestled among Jesus opponents and yet does not agree with the verdict of his colleagues. More than that, he was waiting expectantly for the coming of God’s kingdom and perhaps saw in Jesus the sign of its arrival.
We don’t know his reaction to the sudden turn of events and twist of fate that greeted Jesus in Jerusalem. One day, crowds are hailing Jesus as God’s Anointed, and less than a week later they are calling for his death. We don’t know Joseph’s own emotions at Jesus’ crucifixion – shock, anger, sorrow, disappointment. We don’t know what motivated his actions toward Jesus after he died – regret, respect, reverence. We don’t know any of this.
What we do know is that he went to Pilate to ask for Jesus’ body – an incredibly bold move in itself – and took it down and cared for it and then laid it in a new tomb, perhaps one he had purchased for himself or a family member.
And we know that Joseph, though perhaps in the minority among his colleagues, was not alone. Indeed, we know that in every time and place since there have been those who revere Jesus and those who despise him. Those who see in him the savior of the world and others who see nothing of import whatsoever. Those who agree with the verdict against him and those who don’t. Those who do nothing to honor Jesus and those who do. Those who believe he is God’s Son and those who think he was a good teacher and those who couldn’t care less one way or another.
And we do know one other thing. In Jesus, the one who prayed for his accusers even from the cross, we know that God loves all of them, from Joseph to us and everyone in between.
Prayer: Dear God, remind us that we never know where we may find friends of the gospel and persons of good courage and faith. Let us look for them, and while looking, let us regard all people as those you love and those for whom you died. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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