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“And, behold, there was a man named Joseph…this man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid” (Luke 23:50,52-53).
As I write this on September 19, 2022, much of the world is taken up with the state funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. She was buried today, with all the pomp and ceremony that Britain could muster. Well over 2000 family members, friends, and world leaders were present to honor the queen who had reigned longer than any other British monarch.
But our verse today talks about the grandest funeral that ever took place in this world, although it was attended by only a handful of people. It seems that only Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus, together with a few faithful women, were present at it. Yet God saw to it that His beloved Son was honored with a rich man’s burial, in a new tomb.
But there was something different about that funeral that made it grander than any other. The One who was buried that day would rise again from among the dead, by His own power. He is no longer in the grave; He is risen and seated at God’s right hand. Because He is risen, all who are dead in Christ will also rise, when He comes back for them.
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