Mark 15:42-47 | Joshua 1:1-9
Jesus died and the centurion declared him the Son of God. He retained Jesus’ body and then handed it off to Joseph of Arimathea, who properly took care of the body according to Jewish custom. There in the ground the body lay until women would come to prepare it with spices.
Small details, but there might be something of comfort in this in between.
Joseph was bold. He overcame any fear of his brethren, religious leaders. He overcame any fear of the Roman government. He did what he thought he should. It’s also certain that Joseph would be wealthy. He overcame any social deviation he might have otherwise experienced from relating to and with Jesus’ dead body. He couldn’t bring him back to life - and it’s notable that in these moments, no one would expect Jesus to be raised.
But Joseph of Arimathea showed up in the worst of times and did what he could.
Mark 15:42-47
Since it was late in the afternoon on Preparation Day, just before the Sabbath, Joseph from Arimathea dared to approach Pilate and ask for Jesus’ body. (Joseph was a prominent council member who also eagerly anticipated the coming of God’s kingdom.) Pilate wondered if Jesus was already dead. He called the centurion and asked him whether Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that Jesus was dead, Pilate gave the dead body to Joseph. He bought a linen cloth, took Jesus down from the cross, wrapped him in the cloth, and laid him in a tomb that had been carved out of rock. He rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was buried.
Joshua 1:1-9
After Moses the Lord’s servant died, the Lord spoke to Joshua, Nun’s son. He had been Moses’ helper. “My servant Moses is dead. Now get ready to cross over the Jordan with this entire people to the land that I am going to give to the Israelites. I am giving you every place where you set foot, exactly as I promised Moses. Your territory will stretch from the desert and the Lebanon as far as the great Euphrates River, including all Hittite land, up to the Mediterranean Sea on the west. No one will be able to stand up against you during your lifetime. I will be with you in the same way I was with Moses. I won’t desert you or leave you. Be brave and strong, because you are the one who will help this people take possession of the land, which I pledged to give to their ancestors.
“Be very brave and strong as you carefully obey all of the Instruction that Moses my servant commanded you. Don’t deviate even a bit from it, either to the right or left. Then you will have success wherever you go. Never stop speaking about this Instruction scroll. Recite it day and night so you can carefully obey everything written in it. Then you will accomplish your objectives and you will succeed. I’ve commanded you to be brave and strong, haven’t I? Don’t be alarmed or terrified, because the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Prayer
God,
Give me boldness.
Help me to show up.
Give me wisdom.
Help me to do what’s right.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.