Moment of Meditation: Buried! (Matthew 27:59-60)

And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock.
(Matthew 27:59-60)

Buried!

Jesus was buried by a "secret disciple" in Joseph of Arimathea. Joseph and Nicodemus were members of the Sanhedrin. Members who were apparently not present when Jesus stood on trial before them. If they were, they kept silent so that no one would know their true allegiance.

That anonymity worked well until Jesus was dead and needed to be buried before the Sabbath. Joseph had a tomb that he had just had cut for his own burial one day. But there was a greater need at this time. Jesus of Nazareth--the stricken, smitten and afflicted Suffering Servant--the Savior of the world, needed a place to rest.

So Joseph came out of hiding. He made his allegiance to Jesus known as he requested the body of Jesus from Pilate. He stuck his neck out, but was it just a little too late? Certainly not! We know the rest of the story. That on the third day Jesus rose again from the dead. The tomb was just a temporary dwelling place for Jesus' body while He continued to fulfill the Law of God for us even in His death. More on that later.

Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb so that we could "borrow" His righteousness for all eternity. Amen.