Follow Jesus to the end!

As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’

So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first. Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.

So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.
Matthew 27:57 -66

FIRST-CENTURY BURIAL CUSTOMS

When someone died, his or her body was laid in the outer chamber of the tomb and prepared with various spices and perfumes. During this time, mourning ceremonies would take place. After the body had been carefully placed on one of the ledges around the chamber, the tomb was sealed with a large disc-shaped stone that rolled in a trench in front of the tomb. It remained closed until the family returned to collect the bones or to bury another family member. Jesus' tomb was sealed before the body was prepared (Matt. 27:57-66), and Jesus was raised before His friends returned to complete the burial (Matt. 28:1-6).

AN EXPENSIVE GIFT

Only the wealthy could afford large tombs cut into the rock. Their families were buried in these tombs for years (sometimes centuries). The tomb that Joseph of Arimathea provided for Jesus was such a tomb (Matt. 27:59-60; Luke 23:53; John 19:41). The stone was so large that the women were afraid they would not be able to open it (Mark 16:1-3). A stone of this size would be found on the tomb of a wealthy man. Source http://www.pottershouseschool.org

The story of Jesus does not end at his burial! Tomorrow we will recall what happend on the third day.

Pray that believers in Namibia and all over the world will follow and preach the life of Jesus to the very end.