Words of Grace

By Rev. Mahlon Nevel

There was Joseph, the favorite Son of Jacob. There was Joseph, the husband of Mary. These two men named Joseph are well-known Bible characters.

But in Luke 23 there is a man named Joseph that is not as well-known. He was among that huge crowd of people who stood watching Jesus as he hung upon the cross.

Joseph was from the Jewish City of Arimathea. He was a good and just man who was waiting for the Messiah to bring the Kingdom of God.

He begged for permission from Pilate to take the body of Jesus down from the cross. After he took the body, he placed it in a tomb that had never been used.

Joseph was a rich man, and Jesus was buried in a rich man’s grave. This was in fulfillment of Isaiah 53:9. He would make his grave with both the wicked and with the rich in his death.

There were women at the crucifixion who saw what Joseph did. They followed him to the Sepulchre where his body was laid.

Then, very early on the first day of the week, they went back to the sepulchre to annoint the body. (Luke 24:1) When they went inside but did not find the body of Jesus. To their great amazement, two angels were there. “He is not here,” they exclaimed, ‘but is risen!’