How Many Were There?

How many were there?

Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz

John 19:31-42

John 19:31 Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with Him; 33 but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. 36 For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, “NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED.” 38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body. 39 Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

It took me back when I attended a funeral for a man who was only 65 years old. I had started my Christian journey and there was an unexpected death in the church. One of the prominent members passed. I do not remember why I felt compelled to attend the funeral, but I did. The church which can seat 750 people was overflowing. A nice send off for this man. What took me by surprise was a person’s comment about him being a righteous man because so many people were there.

I remember my grandfather Abe’s funeral. There were over 300 cars in the procession from the funeral chapel to the graveside. Abe died early, at 68 years old, from complications from surgery. He was a cigarette smoker for years and that was a cause for his untimely death. My grandmother Julia and he were socialites. They knew many people. So, there were many people who came to the funeral. When Julia passed, she was 92 years old. She outlived all her friends. She was an only child. Therefore, there was not anyone from her side of the family that attended the funeral. It was a tiny group of people that were there.

Abe was a good man. Julia was a wonderful woman. To attribute either of their righteousness to the number of people who attended their funerals is incorrect. Both were righteous people. What is important to remember is that they lived a good life. They were wonderful and caring people. How one lives one’s life is what is important.

In my 25 years of pastoral ministry, I have done numerous funerals. Some had a huge attendance, while others did not. The number of people at the funeral had nothing to do with the person’s righteousness. Let’s turn to the Gospel. Jesus was a young man. We believed he was 33 years old when he died. If all his followers had come to Jerusalem for his funeral, it would have caused complete chaos in the already full city, as he knew many people.

Think about it this way. What aspect of Jesus’ life do we get the best lessons from? It is the narratives about what Jesus said and did in his life that influence us today the most. Sure, we remember his death with a day called “Good Friday.” In my ministry experience, it is a poorly attended worship service. Sure, people do not want to think about Jesus' horrible death. They like Easter morning with all the celebrations. However, you cannot have a resurrection without a death. When we think about the resurrection, we tell stories of the really cool things Jesus did after rising from the dead.

I tell the people grieving at a funeral service a person stays alive if they remain in our hearts. We need to remember and hold on to the wonderful memories of the person. We need to remember the wonderful things that Jesus said and showed us. If we do this, then Jesus is alive in us. We should follow his way of living to show our gratitude for Jesus.