Daily Devotional Luke 23:50-54 – Why did Joseph of Arimathea bury Jesus? – Online Bible Study – Commentary in easy English – Day 417

Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. (Luke 23:50-54)

Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy member of the Sanhedrin Council, didn’t consent to taking Jesus to Pilate. Although he was a good and upright man, he lacked courage to tell the Council he believed Jesus was the Son of God. He was a secret disciple of Jesus because he didn’t want to be rejected by the Jews and not allowed into the temple.

Watching Jesus’ crucifixion changed him. He gained courage to give up Judaism and follow Jesus openly when he asked Pilate for Jesus’ body, took it down, prepared it, and placed it in his family tomb. He gave up wealth, his family tomb, for Jesus. According to Law only one family line could be placed in a tomb. He learned that what we give up for Jesus we get back. Jesus only needed the tomb to fulfill prophecy. Isaiah 53.9 stated the Messiah would be buried among the rich, but Jesus didn’t need a place to store his bones. Unlike our bodies, his body didn’t succumb to sin. He was able to take it to heaven. Joseph got his tomb back.

According to a BBC article, http://www.bbc.co.uk/thepassion/articles/joseph_of_arimathea.shtml England has many stories concerning Joseph of Arithmea. He was Jesus’ great uncle and brought Jesus to Somerset and Cornwall, England when Jesus was a teenager. More importantly, God’s mercy of Jesus taking our sins to the cross with Him changed Joseph’s heart. Not only did he gain courage that day, he became a missionary and brought Christianity to England and built England’s first church.

Father God, help me be courageous in my faith and do what I can for Jesus as Joseph did at the burial of Christ. Help me show others I have courage and joy because Jesus took away my sin at the cross and is now my refuge. I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

Daily Devotional Luke 23:50-54 – Why did Joseph of Arimathea bury Jesus? – Online Bible Study – Commentary in easy English – Day 417

3 thoughts on “Daily Devotional Luke 23:50-54 – Why did Joseph of Arimathea bury Jesus? – Online Bible Study – Commentary in easy English – Day 417

  1. One of the most amazing experiences we had when in England was going to Glastonbury. According to legend Jesus and his Uncle, Joseph of Arimathea, traveled to Glastonbury when Jesus was young. It was concerning tin trade. Apparently, there was Jewish population in Somerset involved in tin trade. After Jesus died, Joseph traveled to Glastonbury with a thorn staff and the Holy Grail. He shoved the staff into the earth and it grew into the thorn tree. A cutting of the tree was taken and planted in the same and it is still there. It was amazing to see and touch the tree. The Holy Grail was buried at the bottom of Glastonbury Tor, where there is a well, which has red water signifying the blood of Christ. We walked up to the Tor. Funny side note, on our way down the hill, Victoria and I took one path and Drew took another to get a picture. I realized that there was a bull on the loose and I had to pick up Victoria and run really fast to get to the fence for our safety. The ruins of The Glastonbury Abbey are there too. This is in Somerset England and our Grandfather was born in Cucklington, Somerset not far from Glastonbury.

    1. Thank you for providing the legend of Glastonbury. I read some of what you wrote but not in as much detail. It is amazing to me that none of the commentaries I read (at least 10) on Joseph of Arimathea mentioned his future ministry in England. All of the comments said that the Bible never mentioned anything further of Joseph of Arimathea so no one knew what happened to him. I wouldn’t have known he became a missionary to England if I missed the article from the BBC. I’m glad you weren’t hurt by the bull! I also didn’t know that Cucklington was in Somerset. No one from England has heard of Cucklington, so I should say Cucklington, Somerset.

  2. Cucklington, is really beautiful. Rolling hills in the beautiful English countryside. Yes, say Cuckington, Somerset. Stonehenge, Bath, Salisbury and Glastonbury are all pretty close.

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