“Do the best you can for God with what God gave you and God will make up the difference.” A passionate plea from a passionate pastor. It was delivered at the end of the Sunday sermon which was taken from Mark 15:40-47. It’s a story about what was going to happen to Jesus’s body.
Generally, after crucifixion, the Romans would let the crucified hang there as reminders of what happens to criminals. Sometimes, family members might appear and, if they had the money, they would buy their family member's body for a family burial. It wasn’t typical that a rich man would appear before Pilate and ask for the body of one who had been crucified.
Joseph of Arimathea is that rich man. He’s mentioned in all four gospels. A look at Mark 15:43 states that he is an honourable counsellor. Couple that with Luke 28:51 that states that he hadn’t consented (gone along) with the counsel decision to have Jesus put to death. Those two things together suggest the Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin and Pilate probably knew him.
As soon as Pilate established that Jesus was dead, he released his body to Joseph of Arimathea. Nicodemus joined Joseph, and together they prepared the body for burial (John 19:38-40). Then Jesus was buried in a tomb fit for a king (Matthew 27:60).
But Joseph of Arimathea wasn’t the only one there that followed Jesus. Yes, Joseph was a disciple, believer, of Jesus’s even though it was in secret. Think about it, though, how many in this day and time go to church on Sunday and never mention it at work. How many hold on to all the things of this world and show up on Sunday? How different is that from what Joseph was doing?
There were others in attendance. Not everyone abandoned Jesus. Mark 15:40,41,47 says that others were present who watched what was happening. They were still there when Jesus’s body was put in the tomb. They didn’t have money or influence but they were doing what they could. “It’s not about what I have but about what I do with my faith. There’s something for all of us to do.” said Pastor Josh. Which takes us back to the opening line, “Do what you can for God.”
Generally, after crucifixion, the Romans would let the crucified hang there as reminders of what happens to criminals. Sometimes, family members might appear and, if they had the money, they would buy their family member's body for a family burial. It wasn’t typical that a rich man would appear before Pilate and ask for the body of one who had been crucified.
Joseph of Arimathea is that rich man. He’s mentioned in all four gospels. A look at Mark 15:43 states that he is an honourable counsellor. Couple that with Luke 28:51 that states that he hadn’t consented (gone along) with the counsel decision to have Jesus put to death. Those two things together suggest the Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin and Pilate probably knew him.
As soon as Pilate established that Jesus was dead, he released his body to Joseph of Arimathea. Nicodemus joined Joseph, and together they prepared the body for burial (John 19:38-40). Then Jesus was buried in a tomb fit for a king (Matthew 27:60).
But Joseph of Arimathea wasn’t the only one there that followed Jesus. Yes, Joseph was a disciple, believer, of Jesus’s even though it was in secret. Think about it, though, how many in this day and time go to church on Sunday and never mention it at work. How many hold on to all the things of this world and show up on Sunday? How different is that from what Joseph was doing?
There were others in attendance. Not everyone abandoned Jesus. Mark 15:40,41,47 says that others were present who watched what was happening. They were still there when Jesus’s body was put in the tomb. They didn’t have money or influence but they were doing what they could. “It’s not about what I have but about what I do with my faith. There’s something for all of us to do.” said Pastor Josh. Which takes us back to the opening line, “Do what you can for God.”
