Narrator (3:47)

Torchlight illuminated an unlikely figure approaching the court of Pilate. His blue fringed robes and leather amulet suggested he was a Pharisee. But he did not approach Pilate like one. His demeanor was humble and broken, and there was a deep pain behind his eyes.

Joseph of Arimathea (4:08)

Honorable Pilate, my name is Joseph of Arimathea and I have come seeking a favor on behalf of Jesus of Nazareth.

Narrator (4:20)

Pilate's conscience had been tormented since giving up the so called King of the Jews. Something about him compelled him, although he couldn't quite describe it. And the events that followed his death certainly added to this intrigue. The skies shut out the sun, the earth shook, and the veil in the temple cut straight through the middle. There were even rumors of people witnessing their dead loved ones walking among the living. Pilate was compelled to give whatever Joseph wanted.

Pilate (4:55)

What is your request?

Narrator (4:57)

Pilate asked, feigning passivity.

Joseph of Arimathea (4:59)

I would like to give him a proper burial according to our customs. It is only right that he receive.

Narrator (5:07)

A proper burial, Joseph replied.

Joseph of Arimathea (5:11)

I have a gravesite secured. All I need is the body.

Pilate (5:16)

There is nothing right about what happened.

Narrator (5:18)

To Jesus, Pilate thought to himself. He looked down at Joseph and gestured to his leather amulet.

Pilate (5:25)

The Jewish rulers are afraid his followers may steal the body. Your robes suggest you are one of them. This wouldn't be a ploy to steal his body before they do, would it?

Narrator (5:37)

Joseph bowed his head to Pilate.

Joseph of Arimathea (5:39)

No, your excellency, no. I. I just.

Narrator (5:44)

Joseph bowed his head to Pilate. The words were caught in his throat. His shoulders began to feel the weight of his grief. Joseph was a rich and influential man and followed the Rabbi from Nazareth from afar. He hid his devotion out of fear and deeply regretted it. Joseph thought if he could somehow pay Jesus this last respect, it might atone for his cowardice.

Joseph of Arimathea (6:14)

I just want to honor him. I. I didn't honor him in life, so perhaps I can in death.

Narrator (6:25)

Pilate looked away, doing his best to remain apathetic.

Pilate (6:28)

Very well, he said, clearing his throat. I will grant your request. Go to the crucifixion site with my seal. My men will let you have the body. Be advised, the Jewish rulers will want gods by his grave.

Narrator (6:43)

Joseph gave a final bow and left with A letter sealed by Pilate. He held it tightly and rounded the path to the mount where Jesus had been crucified. Joseph followed the blood stained rocks leading up the hill called skull. Flashes of his brutal death came rushing back into his memory. He wished he had jumped to help. He wished he had said something to the Sanhedrin before they persecuted him. He could have done something, but instead he chose to remain silent.

Joseph of Arimathea (7:17)

How could I have been so faithless, so afraid?

Narrator (7:22)

Joseph thought to himself. He was not the only one. Even Jesus closest followers were unable to move to his aid. Now they were all paralyzed, suspended somewhere between regret and confusion. Joseph of Arimathea arrived at the peak of the mountain. Blood and water soaked the floor beneath the cross. In shock, Joseph placed a hand on his mouth. When he saw Jesus lifeless body cradled in burlap, Joseph gestured to the soldiers and placed Pilate's note in the hand of the centurion in charge.

Joseph of Arimathea (8:01)

I have come to give him a burial according to our customs, he said.

Narrator (8:07)

The centurion looked over at Jesus body and pursed his lips. That man was not of this world, he said, pondering whether he could open up to Joseph or not. Truly, he was the Son of God. The words were surprising to hear from a centurion. But then again, Joseph was a member of the Jewish Council. Both of them should have been Jesus enemies. Yet they both found themselves unable to deny who he was. Joseph approached the body with his servants. Before he could kneel down, another unlikely person made his way up the hill. The man wore the same amulet and blue fringed robe as Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish Council, a ruler in his own right, and a renowned Pharisee. Nicodemus. Nicodemus was another secret follower of Jesus. Ever since his meeting with him, Nicodemus was compelled that Jesus was who he said he was. Nicodemus was not as wealthy as Joseph of Arimathea, but he had come to pay his respects to Jesus body. He appeared with an offering of myrrh and aloe. The offering was slung over his back, weighing over 75 pounds. To Nicodemus, it was his alabaster flask, his cross to carry. It was an offering to set at the feet of the God he should have recognized from the beginning. Nicodemus was also a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish Council. He wore the same robes as Joseph and the same shame. The shame of losing faith when it mattered most and gaining it when it seemed pointless. The two men knelt down and carried his body to the tomb Joseph had purchased. It was A large grave hewn on the side of a cliff near Golgotha. Around the grave was a well kept garden. An array of flowers blossomed along the path leading to the entrance. Together the two men carefully tended to their Lord's body. They cleaned his wounds and meticulously wrapped every inch of his body according to the law. His linen grave clothes had been mixed with spices and the fragrant smell of myrrh filled the air around them. They crouched down and carried his body gently into the tomb where her bed was made from stone and wood, a fitting burial for a stonemason and carpenter. A large circular stone was next to the grave. The men and their servants pushed the front of the entrance with great labor and sorrowful effort. Guards were charged to stand near the tomb. They would report anything suspicious to the chief priest and Pilate. Yet no stone or guard could thwart what would happen in that grave just a few days later.

Host (11:35)

I want you to listen to these words spoken by Paul in Ephesians 4:15 16 rather speaking the truth in love we are to grow up in every way into him, who is the head into Christ, from whom the whole body joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Now you may be wondering what this has to do with the burial of Jesus. Here's the kernel of wisdom that we can find in this story. Our theme for today's episode is tender care towards the body of Christ. There's profound imagery in this story. Joseph and Nicodemus put a great deal of respect, love and resource into the burial of Jesus. Although people shamed him and his death as he hung on a cross, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus assured that he got a respectable buried. They tended to his body meticulously out of reverence and worship. And this is an image of what you and I are called to do with the body of Christ the Church. The Bible describes the church as the body of Christ consisting of many members with different functions. The type of tender love and care that Joseph and Nicodemus had for Jesus body is the same tender love and care that we're supposed to give one another as fellow members of the body of Christ, the church, the community of God. Paul continues with his metaphor in 1 Corinthians 12 when he says, for just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body through many are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one spirit we were all baptized into one body. Jews or Greeks, slaves or free. We are all made to drink of one spirit. For the body does not consist of one member, but many. If the foot should say, because I am not a hand, I don't belong to the body, that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body, that would not make it any less part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. Here are two encouraging truths for you. One, you are a vital and important and unique member of the body of Christ. Not only are you necessary with all of your quirks and unique gifts, but you serve a specific function that nobody else can. Wishing you have the same gifts or skills as somebody else is a waste of your time and the God given talent within you. God has made you unique and crafted you for a purpose. The unique and authentic you submitted to the Spirit of God can accomplish great things. Be encouraged by that. The second thing here is that you're a part of something greater than yourself. And that gives us a lot of purpose. There's a body of Christ moving and marching towards a greater thing. Don't neglect that community. Listen, I get it. Church can be weird and the people in church can be weird. The community of God can be messy and broken, judgmental at times. But Christ died for all of us. We're all face planning through this life, stumbling upwards towards our Savior. To not go to church because it's filled with hypocrites and sinners is basically saying, well, I'm sick and I need to go to a hospital. But there's a lot of sick people there. It's a place for sick people. It doesn't really make sense. The church is for hypocrites. But we're all hypocrites, aren't we? So let's dive in. Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, cared for the body of Christ. They gave his body special time and attention. Even in the midst of doubt, confusion and grief, they were faithful. And that's our call. We are all called to care for the body of Christ with the same tenderness and love that Joseph and Nicodemus did. Easter is just one day away and the resurrection of Christ is upon us. However, for the disciples, it was a dark day. They were scattered, afraid and without hope. Do you feel this way? Do you feel aimless, confused or frightened? Find care in the presence of God's people this Easter and join us for one final day through Passion Week, following Jesus out of the grave and into the light, and for more inspiration and knowledge to last a lifetime. Be sure to download the pray.com app. This is an iHeart podcast.