In my last letter to you I was going to finish up this story of Jesus and his crucifixion as I try to keep them around 1000 words and I have too much to say so i lwill be continue now with his death.
As the 9th hour approaches Jesus says his last words as a human being. Matthew and Mark both tell us he said, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabach-thani.” Which is interpreted as, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? This is the first time in his life where he has lost contact with his Father, as God looks away from Jesus, as he becomes the sin offering, and takes on our sins, which causes God to look away from Jesus. Brother John tells us Jesus then says, I thirst, and someone gives him vinegar on a sponge to wet his lips. Then he says, “It is finished.” Luke gives us his final words in verse chapter 23, verse 46 as, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit,” and he bows his head and dies.
As those words of his final utterances are finished, suddenly the veil of the Temple is torn from top to bottom. Remember this Temple veil is about 4 inches thick, so this was no accident. I believe 2 angels grabbed it and pulled it apart. This had to be very frightening to the priest who was behind it, as God removed the veil between Him and mankind. We now had access to God without the need of any other human being meditating for us. God was now satisfied with the blood sacrifice of Jesus, and we now had direct access to Him, just like Adam had in the beginning.
Jesus has now died after 6 hours of agony and pain, hanging on the cross, and this day was drawing to a close since it was the last 3 hours of a Jewish week. The religious leaders wanted this whole mess cleaned up because they didn’t want those condemned men hanging on their crosses during the Sabbath day which began at the 12th hour. They asked that the soldiers would break the legs of those condemned and allow them to die quickly. The orders were given, and they broke the legs of the 2 men that were thieves, but as they approached Jesus they saw that he was already dead. One soldier took his spear and thrust it into the side of Jesus, and blood and water flowed out, John 19:34.
Matthew gives us more information about an earthquake that the other 3 writers do not give about what transpired as Jesus died. Both Mark and Luke do say almost the same things about what the Centurions said. So the extra words that Matthew said are significant. I for one believe that what he said about an earthquake is believable, because the life and death of Jesus Christ was such a supernatural event that was orchestrated by God Almighty as He fixes Adam’s mistake.
Joseph of Arimathaea goes to Pilate and ask for the body of Jesus. Why is this? Joseph is not family, but he is well known to Pilate. He is totally surprised that this man is dead already and sends for the Centurion in charge. He then affirms to Pilate that he has witnessed his death. Then he agrees to allow Joseph to take the body down and bury it. Do you see the connection here? The person allowed by God to nurture and provide for Jesus while he lived was another Joseph as his supposed father. Now here is God allowing another Joseph to tenderly care for him in his death. No coincidence here, it was Gods plan, and I find that fascinating.
All four gospel writers agree on this part of which Joseph preformed. John gives us a little more information as to who helped in this burial ritual that was preformed on Jesus by those who loved him so much. Nicodemus helped in this burial ritual preparation. Both men were secret followers of Jesus and his teachings, and were wealthy men who probably provided for his support while alive also. They provided the necessary herbs and spices for properly preparing the body for burial. Joseph and Nicodemus arrange to meet at the tomb Joseph had probably prepared for himself.
They wrap the body of Jesus in a clean linen cloth and lay him on the stone slab-Matthew 27:60. Then they put a mixture of myrrh and aloes on an all around his body, and probably under it also. Nicodemus had bought around a hundred pound weight of them-John 19:39-40, and brought it with him to the tomb. That’s a huge amount and took considerable people to transport it. This was a very expensive amount of herbs, more than enough for over 100 bodies. This showed how much these two religious leaders loved and respected him.
Why did they do this? Simple answer is that his death was so final, they did not understand that he really was the Messiah, and he would rise again to life from the cold tomb and death. They truly believed that by this final act of devotion and love, he would be remembered by all who were touched by his love for them. Both Luke and John state that this was a new tomb into which no one had ever been buried in before. Why is this important? When Jesus rose from the dead it could not be implied that it was someone else who rose. It could only be Jesus.
Another point of interest here is that both Joseph and Nicodemus did not do this alone. Both men were very rich and had numerous servants that did all the work, including taking the body of Jesus off the cross, and carried all the myrrh and aloe. They were men of means and it cost them some real real money to do this and honor their Lord.
After all the preparations were completed and the body carefully cared for, they all leave the tomb and roll the stone over the doorway, and go back to their homes in sadness and sorrow. This concludes my version of the crucifixion and sets the stage for my next letter that I will post on Easter Sunday about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Keep your eyes on Jesus and always remember, you will make it, just don’t give up. I will be back Sunday with the resurrection as we study God’s Word together.
In His Service As Kilted Priest
The Kilted Priest 