LUKE 23:53

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. - Luke 23:53

Did people often put bodies in tombs that had people already in them? Oh, I guess they would - like a family tomb. That means that Joseph gave up his family tomb for Jesus - or did he know?

Is it weird that he wrapped it in linen? And took the body down? So, he was handling the dead body? A member of the council? Or did he have someone do it? It says, “he.”

In one action Joseph went from a member of the council, high in stature and wealth to a guy who was handling a dead body. I guess that’s what we all do - give up fame, fortune and wealth for Jesus.

LUKE 23:52

 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body. - Luke 23:52

This was probably not an easy decision.  He knew what this meant.  A member of the Council that was, well, associating himself with the Person that was just killed...by the Council.

So, why would he do this?  Was it a nice gesture for the followers of Jesus?  Was it to honor You?  Was it kind of a repentance for what his people had done?  

I mean, what would have happened to Jesus' body if he didn't take it?  Oh, I guess he would have just been buried in a pit.  So, what Joseph did was to make sure that Jesus had an honorable burial place (but, I wonder if you would have rather been buried in a pit), had a place to be buried (I guess there was a time crunch because of the Sabbath - also weird, because they were so concerned about Jewish law....AFTER THEY HAD KILLED THE SAVIOR), and maybe most importantly, gave God the opportunity for Easter!  Rising from some hole in the middle of a field - not as impressive.

In my mind, the biggest thing Joseph did was to respond to God's prompting.  There were a lot of reasons he should have said, "No."  But, he didn't.  Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body.

LUKE 23:51

 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. - Luke 23:51

I wondered why Luke would include the Arimethea part.  Well, Google told me that because he was from there it meant that he had the power and wealth to be a part of the Council, which meant that he could meet with Pilate to be able to do this.  

But that makes me ask, "Did Council members have to be from Arimethea?  Or was it the wealth thing?  Was being on the Council more of a status requirement than a religious one?  For example, were the people chosen for the council chosen on their status or how much they knew about Jewish law?  Were there more politics at play here than spirituality?

Hmmm, this makes a lot more sense!  And all the more reason that they didn't (or wouldn't) believe You were who You said You were.

LUKE 23:50

 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, - Luke 23:50

I love how the verse giver guy (or girl) made sure we really knew who Joseph was.

A member of the Council - He was a member of the supreme ruling group of the Jewish law.  You may recognize that this was the same group of people who had Jesus put to death!  You may also recognize that this would put him in a very peculiar position.  I wonder what the other Council members said when they found out.  I also wonder what the people who followed the Council thought when they found out he did this.

A good and upright man - He was not defined by his position.  A Council member would not have done this.  Only a good and upright man does what is right no matter what others think or what the repercussions my be.

Good verse, verse guy (or girl)

LUKE 23:49

But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. - Luke 23:49

So the people who were beating their breasts were not Your followers.  Impressive.

Your followers were standing far away - maybe scared, maybe too much too handle, maybe kept there by guards.  But, it's funny that Luke doesn't mention anything about them beating their breasts.  It's possible he just didn't think it was needed, or that we would all know that Your followers would be distraught.  But, it's also possible it didn't happen.  It's also possible that even Your followers were so concerned about what might happen to them that they weren't repentant.  It is possible that the ones who were understanding who You were for the first time were more disturbed than those who had been with You for years.

I only say that because I can see it in my own life.  I got sort of "used to it."  You've become more "usual" than "awesome", more "everyday" than "historic", more "friend" than "savior."  I kind of get it, and I king of think - unimpressive!

LUKE 23:48

When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. - Luke 23:48

Beating their breasts meant that they were sorry and sad.  

I was wondering, "What type of person gathers to witness this sight? Was it people who enjoyed a good crucifixion?  Was it followers of Jesus who wanted to be there for Him?"

If it was the former, that's impressive.  If, in this moment they had finally realized how we were really the cause of all of this and had a deep emotional response to it, that's awesome!  If it was the later, still impressive, but expected.  

Now I am wondering, "What is anything I would beat my breast over?"

LUKE 23:47

 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man." - Luke 23:47

So, the soldier got it.  The criminal got it.  Some of the people got it.  But, the religious leaders, the political leaders, the other criminal, and a good amount of people in the courtyard that night - they didn't get it.  

And these are all people who were there.  They saw Jesus.  They, at the very least had heard what He did.  Most of them talked to Him, saw Him in action.  

So, I guess I shouldn't be all that surprised when people misjudge me.  And I guess I shouldn't be all that surprised when people don't get it.  Everyone I know has not seen Jesus, has not heard Jesus.  They've probably have heard what He did, but it was a long time ago.  

But, thank You that there are people like the soldier, the criminal and the people that get it.  I was going to write that they make life a whole lot better; however, as I thought about it, I wondered, "Are the people that I really like being around that way because they get it?"  

You know what, I think they are.

LUKE 23:46

 Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit."  When He had said this, He breathed His last. - Luke 23:46

Was this a relief?  It was finally all over.  Was this sad?  You were leaving your home for the last 33 years.  Was there some fear involved?  You were, if I have my theology correct, about to literally go to hell.  Was there some satisfaction?  You had done what the Father wanted You to do.  

I think I underestimate all the emotions that must have been going on during that time You had on the cross.  So many things coming to an end.  Being Jesus, I think I've always just looked at this from a Savior / pain standpoint.  But, as a fully human man, there was so much happening.

So, when You say, "into your hands I commit my spirit." You really are coming to the realization that this physical part of You is gone.  That had to be tough.

LUKE 23:45

 for the sun stopped shining.  And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. - Luke 23:45

The sun stopped shining?  Not like there were clouds covering it, or were there clouds covering it and this is just how Luke described it?  Let's just assume it was as Luke said - there was a sun in the sky, but no light was coming from it.  The single most brightest star in the sky and no light.  Literally, the life giving source of everything on earth - it just stopped being that.

How long could we last without the sun?  A couple days?  A week?  Google says it would be a few weeks at most.  A lot of people would freeze and most everyone would definitely starve after a while.  

And for a few hours the sun stopped shining - showing us what life is like without the sun.  Get it?

LUKE 23:44

 It was about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, - Luke 23:44

Three hours!  Three days!  Nice touch God!

So were these the only three hours in the history of the universe that Jesus was not in The Kingdom?  Like were these the only hours that Jesus was not in heaven or on earth?  According to Google, the earth has been around for roughly 39.816 trillion hours, and I guess if you think about it, Jesus was in heaven before that so infinity hours for Him.  And in all that time, there were three hours that You weren't with us.

I guess we can count on You being there!

LUKE 23:43

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise.” - Luke 23:43

Paradise! You didn’t say heaven. You didn’t say after life. You went paradise.

I think I forget that when we die it’s perfect. I mean I can’t wait, and I don’t fear death, but I guess it’s gonna be kind of like this video I’m watching right now. To meet You, to be in a place with no sin, no lies, where everything finally makes sense. Seems like I should remember that more when I think life is tough.

LUKE 23:42

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into Your kingdom.” - Luke 23:42

This guy had to know a little bit about Jesus. To know that He talked about a kingdom and even that he asks You to remember him shows that he knows a little bit about judgement or that everyone doesn’t get in.

I wonder if that was just from what people were saying that day or if he had heard Jesus talk. Maybe it was from people in his neighborhood talking about Him in the neighborhood. Whatever it was, it was enough for him to remember as Jesus was there next to him.

I guess it really doesn’t take that much faith at all to believe; especially when you realize that is all that really matters.

LUKE 23:41

 "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this Man has done nothing wrong." - Luke 23:41

This guy gets it!  The criminal is wiser than the governor.  Wiser than the religious leaders.  

I guess we should maybe think about this before we judge someone whose opinion we don't we trust (or care about) because of what they've done or who they are.  I guess it works both ways.  How often do we, in schools, say, "The principal said it."  or "The superintendant said it."  Or, when we were kids, "The teacher said it."  We believed their opinions because of the position they had.  Heck, we even thought, "Well, my parents said it."

This is not to say, "Don't trust anyone."  But, it is to say that criminals, parents, teachers, religious leaders, politicians - they have some good opinions and they have some bad opinions.  The key is to find the truth in there somewhere.

LUKE 23:40

 But the other criminal rebuked him, "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence?"

The same sentence?  Both are sentenced to die, but one is sentenced because He is King of the Jews.  That wasn't even a criminal offense in the Roman world.  The other probably killed someone, or at least did something that was actually against the law.  

Kind of crazy.  They were both in the same boat though.  God and a killer (I'm just going to assume that's what it was because I can't get it out of my head).  Both hanging on a cross.  Both would be dead in a few hours.  Both fully human.

You really can relate to all of us!  And that is something that should make us see how awesome You are - just like the other guy said.

LUKE 23:39

 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Him: "Aren't you the Messiah?  Save Yourself and us." - Luke 23:39

What would I say if I was next to Jesus?  I'm guessing my life would be a little different if I was on a cross myself.  Honestly, if that were the case, I'd probably be a little disappointed in myself, maybe have a lot of regrets in my life, probably would blame a lot of people for how I got there.  

As I think about it, I can see how this person (we are not sure it was a dude, correct?) could have made these what we now know to be ridiculous comments.  They are mad, they are angry - most people would probably be in their frame of mind.  You were just the last person they could take out their frustration on.

In fact, how many people today have the "Save Yourself and us!"  attitude.  They make poor decisions or have horrible things happen in their lives and come to you saying, "Save us!"  

Which makes it all more impressive what is about the happen next.....