Luke 23:44-56 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.
The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man." When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
Observation:
- How did Jesus die?
It was about noon when he was cruxified, and he died at three in the afternoon. At that time, darkness came over the whole land and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. "Jesus called out with a loud voice, 'Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.' When he had said this, he breathed his last."
- How did people interpret his death?
The centurion, who represented the Roman power, seeing what had happened, praised God and said that he was a righteous man. The people, who had gathered to witness this sight, beat their breasts and went away.
"All those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things."
- Joseph buried Jesus
A man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, was waiting for the kingdom of God. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body. Then he took it down and placed it in his tomb.
- The feature of Jewish burial
On the day when a man dies, his dead body should be anointed with oil, wrapped in linen cloth then placed in a tomb. What is forbidden was that the body shall not be buried on the Sabbath Day. So the women who prepared spices and perfumes rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
Explanation and application:
1. Jesus' death is not the end; but, a new start. Jesus said that he committed his spirit into the hands of the Father. Then darkness came over the whole land and the curtain of the temple was torn in two, which symbolized that the wall that separated people and God was knocked through. That was the real new start. His death abolished the curse of death on men. Though all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Jesus saved the world from sins.
2. Even the Roman centurion who tortured Jesus, seeing what Jesus had done, gave glory to God and regarded him as a righteous man. In his eyes, all the criminals deserved death, while Jesus was the exception. It was surprising that the Gentile realized the magnificence of God to the extent that he praised God.
Many people beat their breasts, reflecting on their total failure that they remained indifferent when a sinless man was crucified.
3. How could Joseph make such a big sacrifice for Jesus? Through the verses, we can see that Joseph waited for the kingdom of God. As a member of the Council, he had good judgment and didn't go along with others in their evil deeds. He witnessed all Jesus did silently, so he knew the meaning of Jesus' death. He risked his life to ask for Jesus' body to bury it. He was willing to offer his own tomb to the Lord.
4. The disciples and women from Galilee were so brave that they prepared spices and perfumes for Jesus! The Jewish burial tradition was to pour spices and perfumes on the dead body. Because of the incoming Sabbath, they had to wait after that day. They all obeyed the commandment of the Jews!
Translated by Karen Luo
