As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 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 and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

Matthew 27:57 – 61

Can it be that Jesus’ disciples dispersed and went into hiding during these hours when the most wonderful, amazing and agonizing thing that ever happened on the earth was occurring – Jesus taking on himself all the sins of the world?  It seems so, except for John, as we already noted.

We recall that a few hours ago the disciples clustered around Jesus in that upper room.  They were closer to Jesus than anyone else as they ate that memorable meal with him. As though physical proximity was not sufficient, Jesus gave himself to each one of them in that blessed wine and bread, his body and his blood!  Who can understand that?  And who can understand that as Jesus hung there on the Cross none of them except young John were with their Jesus?  What about Jesus’ desire that his close disciples would take the Gospel to the ends of the earth? Looks bad, indeed.

I find myself wondering who this Joseph is who took down the limp lifeless body of Jesus Christ. By doing so, he obviously identified himself as a believer in Jesus. He loved Jesus so much that he put his body in the new tomb that he had just had hewn out of rock for his own burial.  He was a member of the Jewish Counsel, a wealthy man, but a lover of Jesus, no reason given.

With him to help was a man we first met three years earlier, Nicodemus, also a dedicated Jew who served as an elder of Israel. Together they did what Jesus’ closest friends did not do – took Jesus’ body to a tomb.  John 19:19 – 20  Once again I stand in amazement and am awed by the ways of God.  Two most unexpected men appeared to bury Jesus’ body.  The mysteries of God are beyond telling.  With all saints, I bow in reverence and believe.

I note that after these men buried Jesus’ dead body, nearby, watching it all, were two  women, Mary Magdalene and the “other Mary.” Matthew tells nothing of their emotions, just that they could not leave until they saw where Jesus was laid.  Jesus’ own disciples were nowhere to be seen!