Resurrection Day, let us rejoice!

Joseph stood observing the workers chiseling the stone, and thought about the cost of his latest project wondering to himself if all the expense was worth it. It had been so expensive to acquire the land in the first place to say nothing of the cost of burrowing into the rock face. “You cannot cheat death he always used to say.” Now none of that seemed to matter; these were the least of his concerns. There had been so much going on recently that had changed his priorities. When he began the project it seemed the perfect solution to his life, finally he had a monument to his legacy. This place where his descendants could come and remember the “great man” who had established the family wealth and given rise to the family reputation, would be his lasting legacy.

He had worked so hard and made so many sacrifices to win his place on the council. Finally he had the respect and admiration of his peers and in one day it had all come crashing down upon him, when he believed in Jesus. Not that he had any regrets; all that had transpired to change his focus had resulted in a deep peace in his heart. He resolved to finish the tomb but somehow had the feeling that he would never use it.

The workers had finally finished and were picking up their tools and none too soon because he had heard that the Teacher had arrived in Jerusalem and was going to be in the temple grounds later in the day. He did not want to miss another opportunity to hear him teach. His words were like arrows in his soul. Joseph’s heart burned with passion as he listened to Jesus teach the “gospel of the kingdom,” as he described it. The things he taught about the Kingdom of God and the resurrection of the dead had long been something he had wondered about; ever since he had first learned them in Sabbath school as a boy. It was what had driven him to excel in his studies. He had done well, had been very devout and had risen in the ranks of the Pharisees; but it was the Kingdom of God that he looked for. No one had ever taught like this man, no one had ever proclaimed the Kingdom of God like Jesus. Surely he is the Messiah.

What a difference 24 hours had made; the arrest, the mockery of a trial, the cruel and brutal treatment of the Master by the Romans. Joseph was crushed. It was with a heavy heart that he made his way through the streets to Pilate’s house. All through the night and into the morning he had watched, helpless. And now the teacher is dead. He knew what he must do. He would claim the body of Jesus and bury him in his own tomb. He did not care what the others on the council might think, his name, Joseph of Arimathea, would be forever linked to and overshadowed by the name of Jesus of Nazareth. He had to hurry, the Sabbath was coming and there was much to do.

Three days later Joseph heard the news, the disciples of Jesus had seen him! “And so have I!” he thought. We followed him to the top of the Mount of Olives, and with our own eyes we watched him ascend into the clouds. “He is risen!” “He is risen indeed!” And now that thing that I built for myself shall ever be a reminder to all who hear of it, of Jesus Christ who overcame Death and the Grave! “Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is you victory? … Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).