Joseph from Arimathea was brave enough to go to Pilate and ask for Jesus’ body. Joseph, an important member of the Jewish council, was one of the people who was waiting for the kingdom of God to come.
Pilate was amazed that Jesus would have already died, so he called the army officer who had guarded Jesus and asked him if Jesus had already died. The officer told Pilate that he was dead, so Pilate told Joseph he could have the body.
Joseph bought some linen cloth, took the body down from the cross, and wrapped it in the linen. He put the body in a tomb that was cut out of a wall of rock. Then he rolled a very large stone to block the entrance of the tomb. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw the place where Jesus was laid. (Mark 15:43-47 NCV)
Jesus the Messiah, the One all Israel awaited for centuries, willingly gave up His life for all humanity. So all who trusted in Him could be forgiven and have hope beyond this world.
The Jewish leaders accused Him, had Him sentenced, and the Romans brutally killed Him. But Jesus lay His own life down, of His own will. No one took it from Him.
Pilate, shocked that He already died, gave Joseph, a secret follower, the body of Jesus. Those who loved Jesus saw where He was laid in the tomb. They saw the great stone blocking the entrance. They saw the end of their hope.
But this is not the end of the story. Lost in their grief, His followers forgot that Jesus told them this was not the end. Buried in grief, worry, or self-pity, we don't see beyond our own hopes. This is where faith enables us to see the full story. ©Word-Strong_2015