A King's Burial - 2/24/2024

Jesus' throne was disguised as a cross, and on that cross, it was finished- our sin, our pain, our sickness, our sorrow. It is finished by the blood of the Lamb, our Royal Redeemer! Jesus' last words were, "It is finished!" and then He bowed His head and gave up His spirit (Jn. 19:30). This is a sobering moment. It was at this moment that the dreams and hopes of the disciples seemed lost, as their conquering King's lifeless body now hung on a criminal's cross. At this moment, it seems the only thing to do is bury His body and try to move on. They were defeated, grieving, and beaten. That is the mood. However, that was not an ordinary man hanging on that cross; instead, it is our King, our Royal Redeemer, and He deserves to be buried in that same way. So, two unsuspecting men ensured His body was cared for immediately: Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. Up to this point, both men had been secret disciples of Jesus, but at that moment, they risked it all to worship their King the only way they knew how: by taking care of His body. These men were making a choice, a final stand. Before their eyes, they saw the fulfilled prophecies of Jesus' death, a testimony to His Kingship that demanded a response.