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 and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
This is interesting…since the Hebrew understanding of Life after death was a little muddled. As we know, Pharisees believed in a bodily resurrection. Sadducees believed in no life after death. Philo, the great Jewish philosopher championed a more Platonic view of “disembodied bliss”.
We can say with little doubt that Ancient Israel was conflicted on this subject. Generally, when this happens, people go to great lengths to plan for all contingencies. At any rate…Joseph was planning for his eternity at least to the point of carving out a tomb for himself.
Here’s my speculation. If Joseph was part of the “bodily resurrection” faction he could “loan out his tomb” knowing it would be empty again once he needed it (however briefly). Of course, this takes a great deal of faith. If he was wrong, he would have no place to “sleep with his fathers” when he died.
What I like most about Joseph is that he stepped up without being asked. He may have deliberated internally, but when the time came he willingly put his own plans for eternity in jeopardy so our Lord would have a resting place.
We say our eternity is in God’s hands…do we live like it? Do we strip ourselves of all the contingency plans we’ve built and trust fully in God’s benevolent grace? As Joseph built his tomb, we build our lives so in the end we bring hands full of good works to influence God’s judgment.
Through faith, Joseph was going to die without a tomb. We are going to face God with empty hands. Is our faith up to it?
Live boldly out there today…
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