MATTHEW now, in these verses, records the burial of Jesus. We confess, in what is known as the Apostles Creed, that Jesus was crucified, dead and buried. Jesus went through the whole process of death. He left nothing out in his office as the 2nd Adam to redeem his people.

Jesus calls his disciples from all sorts of unlikely places. They come from all walks of life. They have many different levels and quality of faith. All are being led by the Lord to grow in grace until he brings us all safely to his eternal kingdom.

Joseph of Arimathea was a disciple of Jesus. Each of the four Gospel writers give us details which build up a picture. In Mark 15:42,43 we are given the information that Joseph was a prominent member of the Jewish Council. This was the Council who condemned Jesus so unjustly. Luke 23:5 tells us that Joseph was an upright man, and that he had not consented to the decision and action of the Council to sentence Jesus to be crucified. We ask ourselves why Joseph was not more vigorous to oppose the decision of the Jewish Council to condemn Jesus, and we are told by John in chapter 19:38 that Joseph was a secret believer. He kept quiet about his faith because he feared the Jews. He feared that he would be shut out of Jewish society, and lose his place on the Council.

This seems very bad. But there are many silent disciples even today, and have been all down history. Fear causes us to be cowards, and fail to be out and out for Jesus. But before we look down on Joseph let us remember, that all the disciples left Jesus when he was taken prisoner by the Jews, and Peter denied his Lord, and this action was in every case cowardice. I doubt whether any one of us can hold up our hand and say that they have never fallen also due to such cowardice. Fear is a powerful weapon of the evil one to shut up the witness of Christ's disciples.

What matters is not how we were, but how we are now, and how we are progressing. If Joseph was a coward in the past, now in the present at a time of serious danger to all who confessed they were disciples of Jesus, he came forward, and openly went to Pilate. He asked for the body of Jesus, and performed publicly an act of love and devotion to Jesus, and honoured him by giving him the best burial he could. Having gained the consent of Pilate to bury Jesus, Joseph embalmed his body in the best way he could, and then laid him in his own tomb which he had reserved for himself.

Joseph's courage failed him at first, but now he made his testimony publicly that he was a disciple of Jesus. His action rebuked the Jewish Council for their evil and unjust action in condemning Jesus to death. Love and devotion to Jesus at last conquered all fear. His faith blossomed mightily, and for the hope he had in Christ, he was prepared to face all criticism and persecution for Jesus. We are told by Mark that Joseph was waiting for the kingdom of God. Here is high faith. The king on whom his hope was founded had been killed, but yet he still believed in and waited for the kingdom of God. He believed even though Jesus was dead, yet the victory still remained to be accomplished, though no doubt he had no clue how it would be.

Joseph did not fail Jesus when it counted. Let us learn from this that, what ever failing we have known in the past, we must go forward. So let us follow the example of Joseph and nail our colours to the mast, and go forth in the name of Jesus as his disciples, and make known we believe in him, and witness to his glory, his victory, and all the blessings of eternal salvation that he won for us.

How are we to do this? We can only do this in the same way Joseph did. Joseph saw that Jesus gave himself in love. He saw him die. He saw the quality of his death. He heard the words Jesus spoke on the cross. He heard the blessing Jesus poured out on the penitent thief. In the light and experience of this his trust in Jesus and his love for him advanced, and from this gift of love his faith was strengthened. Then from this strengthening he came out boldly for Jesus.

This same courage and devotion we see again in the women. Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, followed the body of Jesus right up to the tomb, and saw where he lay. They wanted to show their love and devotion later. Now their love and faith shone forth in their determination to follow Jesus even to his tomb. Here is an example to emulate. Following Jesus with such devotion will not be accomplished without cost. Let this never cause us to falter.

Lastly let us notice how all that happened to Jesus was predetermined and known, and foretold. Here is a strong foundation for our faith. In Isaiah 53:9 we are told that Jesus was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death. Here we see that this was a true prophecy. Jesus died in company with the wicked, and was buried as a wicked man; but also he was given a burial in a rich man's grave. We are told by Matthew that Joseph was a rich man.