Tomorrow is Easter. I hope you will join us on Facebook Live as we celebrate Easter together.
But today, I want to talk to you about a man and a tomb. The was Joseph of Arimathea and the tomb was his. Let me read to you the passage from Matthew 27:57-60
As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.
Joseph was a man of well to do means. He had recently purchased a tomb for His family. But now because Jesus’ died at 3pm and the Sabbath began at 6pm, there was little time to waste to get Jesus’ body buried.
Joseph's tomb was close by and so he took the responsibility to take the body and wash it and wrap it in linen cloth. But he did not have time to put oil and spices on the body and that is why women returned on Sunday to finish the preparations. But we will save that for tomorrow.
It was a big deal that Joseph had a new tomb. Since, Jews only put their family members in their own tombs that made this tomb useless to Joseph now. But He did not mind giving unto the Lord.
But here is what is so cool, when Jesus rose from that tomb, He gave back to Joseph what he had given to Him. At some point later, Joseph and his family members were able to use this tomb for their own burial place.
I think there is a huge lesson in this for us. Over my years of following Christ, I’ve discovered an amazing truth: I can never out-give God.
Whatever I think I’m sacrificing is returned to me in a multitude of ways. My financial gifts, the sacrifice of my time, the following of God’s will instead of my own desires… all of these have brought me more peace, joy, and fulfillment in life than I ever could have gained by withholding from God. My sacrifices, it turns out, haven’t been sacrifices at all. I gained far more than I ever gave. So my sacrifices are not really sacrifices at all!
Let us pray!
Blessings,
Pastor Lee & Gidget Athey