Interment

The earth seems in suspense the day after the crucifixion. The one through whom and for whom all things were brought to life (Col. 1:16) had been put to death. What irony! What mystery! We know it was only a pause between death and resurrection, creation and re-creation, but Jesus’ followers didn’t. Was this the end? Had Jesus’ promises come to nothing? Were his claims empty after all? Had his kingdom been defeated? Was eternal life not really eternal? Had they just been jolted back to reality from the dream of Jesus’ mission?

When someone dies there are things to do and you just have to get on with them. It was like that when Jesus died. From the wings, Joseph and Nicodemus entered the stage to undertake the necessary business. Like many men, they weren’t comfortable about being upfront about their faith in Jesus, but they were courageous in asking to bury his body rather than allowing it to rot in a common grave, as was usual for criminals. They show a great devotion to him in caring tenderly for his tortured corpse, according to custom. Joseph shows generosity in burying Jesus, not a family member, in his tomb, fulfilling unwittingly the prophecy of Isaiah 53:9. Jesus was interred in “a new tomb” in “a garden” (41). What happened in this garden was to undo the damage first done in the Garden of Eden. The new tomb hinted at a new beginning and the end of the old age of sin.

They probably understood none of this as they interred him. There are times when we don’t understand the ways of God, when life seems to go into suspense mode and we’re left bewildered by our disappointments. That is the time to go about quietly serving Jesus and, like Joseph and Nicodemus, to trust and wait.

Pray for those recently bereaved. What practical things can you do to encourage them to be resolute in their faith?