Matthew 27:57-61 Wrapped in Linen
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: September 24, 2019 Matthew 27:57-61
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.
(Understanding the Text) Joseph of Arimathea must have been very rich because he had paid to have his own new tomb cut out of the rock. There were numerous tombs that had been in families for centuries. The custom was to put a family member in the tomb until it had been reduced to bones and then remove the bones and put them in an ossuary, leaving a place for a new body to be laid out. Evidently, Joseph’s family tomb was full, he was newly rich and his family didn’t have a tomb, he just wanted to have his own tomb, or the family tomb had been damaged, but for some reason, Joseph had a brand new tomb where no body had ever been lain before waiting for him to die.
When Joseph asked for Jesus’ body to put in his own tomb, he must have been planning on sharing the tomb with Jesus when Joseph died. He wouldn’t be cutting out a new tomb. Thus, Joseph planned that his body would be lying next to Jesus’ body in the same tomb for ages. Joseph must have loved Jesus very much, not just respected Him or followed Him because Jesus was the Messiah. Joseph’s actions are that of a father caring for a son, not a follower taking care of a respected leader who died a disgraceful death. Joseph risked much in going against his fellow members of the Sanhedrin to show respect for the body of the Messiah. Joseph used up a lot of political capital in going to Pilate to ask for the body. Joseph took care of Jesus’ body with respect and dignity, and then he safeguarded it by rolling a stone to close the entrance.
(Understanding the Text / Revelation of God) Two Marys watched as the rich man’s servants came and took down the body of their Master. They followed behind as the body was carried to a tomb and respectfully placed inside. They sat across from the tomb and carefully observed all the preparations. They realized that there was no time to properly prepare the body with spices, so they made plans to buy spices and come after Sabbath to give Jesus’ body the full honor that they could. They may have bought the spices before Sabbath came, or they may not have had time and had to wait and buy them on Saturday night or early Sunday morning. I think maybe Saturday night. Did they have night markets in Jerusalem at this time? As the women watched the proceedings that afternoon, they were probably still numb with shock. Over Sabbath did they discuss how Jesus had said that He would die and about how He had said that Mary’s anointment of Him at the feast was for when He was truly in the grave? Jesus had already been anointed with alabaster and been alive to appreciate the love and grief showered upon Him by Mary. I have heard sermons where the preachers spoke about how the smell of the perfume would have lingered, and Jesus would have smelled it as He hung on the cross and been comforted by the love of at least one of His followers.
(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is that even when things have all gone wrong and I am full of pain and grief, I still need to go forward and do what I can. In showing honor to Jesus’ body even when there appeared to be no hope and only defeat, Joseph ended up receiving honor. In taking chances to stand up for the right even though there seemed to be no gain from his actions, Joseph ended up honoring God beyond anything he could have imagined. I pray to honor You in all that I do and say.