STATION 14: “Laid in the Tomb”
Let us walk the last station of the cross. Jesus is laid in the tomb. Normally, the Roman’s would leave a body on the cross to be devoured by scavenging animals. However, Joseph of Arimathea intervened, stepping out in faith (remember that he was a part of the same body that condemned Jesus, Mark 15:43) to give Jesus a proper burial. Joseph himself became a disciple of Jesus!
This, to me, points so strongly to the deity of Christ. The Roman Centurion recognized who Jesus was as well as two members of the Sanhedrin that condemned him (Both Joseph of Arimathea as well as Nicodemus).
Mark 15:43 (TNIV)
Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.
Matthew 27:57-61 (TNIV)
57 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb.
The day that changed the world:
Luke 24:1-8 (NIV)
24 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words.
I want to point out something here……look closely:
“The two angels (appearing as “men in clothes that gleamed like lightning”) asked the women why they were looking in a tomb for someone who was alive. People often look for God among the dead. They study the Bible as a mere historical document and go to church as if going to a memorial service. But Jesus is not among the dead—he lives! He reigns in the hearts of Christians, and he is the head of his church. Do you look for Jesus among the living? Do you expect him to be active in the world and in the church? Look for signs of his power—they are all around you.” ~~ Bruce B. Barton, LAB Commentary
HE IS RISEN!!!
