He Is Not Here, He Is Risen

Joseph of Arimathea looking for some answers himself. For a brief moment he held the answer to all the questions in life, and then he buried him.

Today counselors show up at traumatic events: grief counselors, child counselors, crisis counselors, the list is almost endless.

But even before the resurrection, one thing was clear, Joseph, the counselor, had something to learn from Jesus Christ, the Counselor.

While history has not given us the exact location where Joseph was buried, we do know that he was unable to repeat the miracle of walking out of the grave.

Joseph’s unique place in history was secured by his willingness to serve Jesus even when it seemed there could be no benefit in it for himself.

Joseph had a longing in his soul for something eternal. He waited for the kingdom of God, and most likely was grieved when he laid the body of Jesus in to his own tomb.

Our text calls Joseph a good man and a just man, and these values motivated him to provide as best he could for the body of Jesus.

He was a member of the Sanhedrin, the governing body who consented to the death of Jesus; yet, Joseph himself did not offer such consent.

He was also a disciple of Jesus Christ.

His ability as a counselor didn’t secure his place in history; but it was his love for Jesus Christ.

When he boldly approached Pilate, the man who was ultimately responsible for the death of Jesus, he made no secret of his desire.

This seems out of character for a “secret disciple”, yet he “begged” for the body of Jesus Christ.

With his own hands, he removed the bloody corpse and carefully washed and wrapped the body of Christ according to the customs of the day.

In short, this suddenly bold disciple did all that he could; yet, Joseph had no power over the grave.

While he owned the grave in which he placed the body of Jesus, he knew, too, that the same grave would one day own him.

He showed the utmost kindness and respect for Jesus, and did all that a human could do for Him under these circumstances.

In many ways, Joseph represents leadership in the church today.

For as he cared for the body of Jesus Christ, church leaders have a similar role in caring for the body of Christ, the church.

Although Joseph provided a place for the body that he covered and tended to, he was powerless to give life to it.

Christian leaders today care for the place where the body of Christ meets and guide the efforts to care for the body of Christ, but they still depend on the Holy Spirit of God to breathe life into the church.

Without the breath of God, the church is dead. Jesus was lifeless in the arms of Joseph. Without God’s spirit, the church is lifeless.

The church must have the touch of God’s spirit. We need God to breath upon us, that we might live. So that when we worship we’re not just going through the motions but we are alive.

So that when we sing, we’re not just singing, but there is life in our song.

Our harps are not hanging in the willows of agony and frustration, but we have found life in Jesus Christ.

He’s not in the grave, He’s alive!