Joseph’s Tomb
Joseph’s Tomb
57 Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. 58 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him.
Matthew 27:57-58
Joseph was a rich man. He was also a disciple. He was the man that asked for the dead body of Jesus. It was in his tomb that Jesus’s body was laid. It was his tomb that they put the large rock and placed guards. It was his tomb that was opened by angels and Jesus walked out alive. You would think that a man connected to such an important part of Jesus life would be well known. He is written in all four gospels but this is the only place where his story is told. He was the disciple, some say a secret one, who gave up his new grave for the Messiah.
I believe that the Bible puts it this way because Joseph represents all those who accept Jesus. We all give up our eternal graves to him so that we don’t have to use them. Joseph’s small story is the gospel in miniature form. Jesus died to take our place in the grave.
59 When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. 61 And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.
Matthew 27:59-61
The text says that after doing so much Joseph simply departed. He like all the other believers believed that this was the end of Jesus’ story. He was to be king but now he was dead. The end. How wrong Joseph and the others ended up being. The true mission of Christ and the purpose of the disciples was only now just beginning.
Sometimes we also believe something is done. Without knowing the full story we sometimes give up on something and walk away like Joseph. But let us remember that Jesus is master of the impossible. Where we believe something is done, Jesus is only beginning. Let us always keep that in mind.
God bless,
Pr. Steven Couto