Devotionals by Dr. M. Craig Barnes
This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. --
Joseph of Arimathea is introduced to us as a good and righteous man, who was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. Luke also tells us that he was a member of the ruling council, but disagreed with its plan to have Jesus killed. Maybe that was because Joseph saw what Jesus had done, or heard his teaching, and believed that he was the one to bring about the kingdom of God. Maybe.
All we know for sure is that after Jesus was dead, Joseph was the one to pull him off the cross and place him in a new tomb. It must have cost Joseph a lot to do this. Not only were these rock-hewn tombs incredibly expensive, but he was clearly going to pay an even higher cost when his colleagues on the council heard about his tender care for Jesus. But if you asked Joseph, he would have said the greatest cost was that he was burying his hope.
Joseph was more devoted to the dead Savior than many of us are to the risen one. When we do not get what we want from Jesus, when we want it, we quickly abandon him and turn to more promising saviors. But Joseph invites us to stay with Jesus even after our devotion appears hopeless. Go ahead and bury him if you have to. Admit that you feel hopeless. But stay by the tomb and do not turn to other hopes, because the story isn't over yet. Joseph was going to get to use that tomb for someone else.
-- Craig Barnes