Jesus' Body: Mark 15:42-47

Jesus’ body is prepared for burial so the rest of God’s plan could unfold.  The cross provided the way to eternal life with God, but God isn’t done.  Humanity still needs some help understanding God's hand in motion.

Joseph of Arimathea comes to care for the body of Jesus.  He is a respected member of the council, which means he would have been present for at least the public trial of Jesus held during the morning – and perhaps the mob meeting held the prior evening.  He was aware of what was going on politically and socially.

Mark doesn’t tell us about Nicodemus, but John’s Gospel states Nicodemus also came with Joseph of Arimathea to take care of Jesus.   Nicodemus was a Pharisee, and a ruler among them.  He was also likely a member of the Sanhedrin.

When Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus come to the cross, they make incredible social sacrifices.  Contact with a dead body would make them ritually unclean.  They would need to stay away from any official meetings, feasts, or social gatherings until their time of purification was over.  Because of this, dealing with dead bodies was an act done by someone of a much lower social standing.  For Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus to do this illustrates Jesus’ impact.

Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus also understood what their concern for Jesus’ body would mean for their social standing.  They were part of the ruling body that had condemned Jesus to the cross.  The rest of the Sanhedrin would see these two caring for the very body the council had put on the cross.  Even if Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were claiming a generic concern for the dead, their social standing would diminish.

There’s more to this act.  Roman tradition dictated that once the crucified criminal was declared dead, the body would be pulled down from the cross and left at the base of the cross for vultures and other scavengers to devour.  It was to be one final act of disgrace reminding people passing by obedience to Roman authority was important.  When Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, with the help of the women, prepare the body for burial they show tremendous care to Jesus and a subversion to Roman culture.

I love this story of compassion over Jesus, even if it comes after His death.  Do Joseph of Armithea and Nicodemus come to the cross out of guilt for their role as a part of the Sanhedrin?  Do they come as genuine followers of Jesus finally making their stance publicly known?  Do they come out of religious obligation to show respect for the dead?  Is their action a mixture of these reasons? 

This story shows people responding to the message of God.  It was God’s plan for Jesus to die, but once the act is over those who listened to Him acted.  God’s plan isn’t finished.  Jesus’ body is prepared for burial so the rest of God’s plan could unfold.