Station 7: Jesus is placed in the tomb | Reflection by Serenity Moore

I am a follower of Jesus. I would like to see Jesus but I will be a secret follower of God and Jesus because I am afraid of the Jews. I thought Jesus would not be able to die on the terrible cross, but he did. I love Jesus with all of my heart because he is my Savior. I would visit the tomb if I could but I could not because there were guards. Jesus is the best person in the world and he is dead. I am very sad. Jesus made me want to be like him. Jesus is holy because he is Lord of all lords.

Joseph also was a secret follower of Jesus because of the Jews I think. He and Nicodemus bought the myrrh and the cloth and put Jesus in the tomb. I wish I could have helped them.

I will be a good follower of Jesus because he is Lord.

Station 7: Jesus is placed in the tomb | Reflection by Krysta Moore

Mark 15:46-47 (TNIV): So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed the body in the tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone across the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.

Joseph, who was a secret follower of Jesus, asked Pilate for Jesus’s body. With Nicodemus, Joseph took Jesus down from the cross (John 19:39-40). The two of them put myrrh and aloes on the body, and wrapped linen cloth around him. Then they laid him in the tomb.

Joseph and Nicodemus laid him so neatly in the tomb, with great care as I would have done if I were there. With love and care they placed him in the tomb, honoring him. Their hard work was done when Jesus’s body was protected. Our LORD Jesus lay in the tomb, a rock closing it to keep him safe.

Station 7: Jesus is placed in the tomb

Mark 15:46-47 (ESV)

And Joseph brought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

Station 6: Jesus is taken down from the cross | Reflection by Francis Dennis

"Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2, ESV)

I've learned to live powerfully and grown stronger by “carrying another’s burden” in my life with Jesus. However, there was a time when I was not so strong. I look back wondering why I didn’t say something when I had a chance to declare my faith in God, especially when this could have helped someone to draw closer to Jesus. I found there to be different layers to increasing relationship with Christ. One of them is changing my thinking, a process that includes every minute of every day. For me, it started with forgiving others and not being resentful. This began to unlock and increase my capacity to believe and help others!
   
Throughout life’s journey, I have found myself lacking  minimum resources. 2 Corinthians 5:7 calls us “to walk by faith, not by sight” (ESV). At times, I have been jobless and homeless, with the occasional motel room, not knowing if I would have the rent by 12 noon or where my next meal would come from. I know, when I was faithful and humbly serving the Lord, no matter what the circumstances, HE ALWAYS PROVIDED WHAT WAS NEEDED, IN HIS PERFECT TIMING!  Sometimes it was at the eleventh hour. While walking through that trial, my relationship grew with Jesus, and my faith was strengthened!

In 2001, I met a woman named Bonni through the church. With the support of my dad and oldest brother, she stepped up and selflessly helped me get away from an abusive situation. I’m reminded of Colossians 2:2-3: “My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (NIV). Bonni boosted me up and was patient, kind, and gentle with me. She inspired me because she was a good example of Christ’s love. She also shared God’s wisdom and knowledge with me. This was a pivotal time in my life because she showed me ways of seeking God that I never knew.

At just the right time, God sent Bonni, my dad, and oldest brother to help lead the way. They showed me what it means to bear one another’s burdens and Jesus and his leading by the Holy Spirit; I was strengthened so that I can in turn carry and help others in times of need. Through my friend’s and family’s  faith, I am encouraged and prepared to plant seeds, humbly ministering to those who want it. I am blessed that people gave to me when I needed it most, and now I get to give to others.

Jesus is so right:

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Luke 12:34, NIV). 

I am grateful for everything and hope you too get to experience the blessing of increased giving in this season.

Station 6: Jesus is taken down from the cross | Hymn Reflection

O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
Written by Paul Gerhardt, Composite Translation (date unknown)
Source: lutheran-hymnal.com (referenced 03.27.18)

O sacred Head, now wounded,
With grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded
With thorns, Thine only crown.
O sacred Head, what glory,
What bliss, till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory,
I joy to call Thee mine.

Men mock and taunt and jeer Thee,
Thou noble countenance,
Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee
And flee before Thy glance.
How art thou pale with anguish,
With sore abuse and scorn!
How doth Thy visage languish
That once was bright as morn!

Now from Thy cheeks has vanished
Their color, once so fair;
From Thy red lips is banished
The splendor that was there.
Grim Death, with cruel rigor,
Hath robbed Thee of Thy life;
Thus Thou has lost Thy vigor,
Thy strength, in this sad strife.

My burden in Thy Passion,
Lord, Thou hast borne for me,
For it was my transgression
Which brought this woe on thee.
I cast me down before Thee,
Wrath were my rightful lot;
Have mercy, I implore Thee;
Redeemer, spurn me not!

My Shepherd, now receive me;
My Guardian, own me Thine.
Great blessings Thou didst give me,
O Source of gifts divine!
Thy lips have often fed me
With words of truth and love,
Thy Spirit oft hath led me
To heavenly joys above.

Here I will stand beside Thee,
From Thee I will not part;
O Savior, do not chide me!
When breaks Thy loving heart,
When soul and body languish
In death's cold, cruel grasp,
Then, in Thy deepest anguish,
Thee in mine arms I'll clasp.

The joy can ne'er be spoken,
Above all joys beside,
When in Thy body broken
I thus with safety hide.
O Lord of life, desiring
Thy glory now to see,
Beside Thy cross expiring,
I'd breathe my soul to Thee.

What language shall I borrow
To thank Thee, dearest Friend,
For this, Thy dying sorrow,
Thy pity without end?
Oh, make me thine forever!
And should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never,
Outlive my love for Thee.

My Savior, be Thou near me
When death is at my door;
Then let Thy presence cheer me,
Forsake me nevermore!
When soul and body languish,
Oh, leave me not alone,
But take away mine anguish
By virtue of Thine own!

Be Thou my Consolation,
My Shield when I must die;
Remind me of Thy Passion
When my last hour draws nigh.
Mine eyes shall then behold Thee,
Upon Thy cross shall dwell,
My heart by faith enfold Thee.
Who dieth thus dies well!

Station 6: Jesus is taken down from the cross | Reflection by Rick Arbuckle

“He is dead. The witnesses attest to it. The soldier pierced his side and proved it. Now in haste, let’s get him down from the cross. Before sundown we must get him down because this is preparation day. We’ve got cooking and cleaning chores, and only three hours to do it! We can’t have this dead body, this unclean thing, interfere with our religion. The dead body is an unclean body, and we must not handle a dead body on the Sabbath.” So might the words of a Pharisee be following the death of Jesus. The religious folk of this era had to adhere to the rules, had to follow the law. Never mind who this person was, or said he was, or what he said about the sabbath. For example, in Luke’s gospel Jesus deals with several sabbath conflicts head on. In Luke 6, it’s about his disciples plucking and eating grain. In verse 5 Jesus says, “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.”* On another sabbath he heals a man with a withered hand. In Luke 13 it is a crippled woman who is healed. Jesus says in verse 16, “And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?” Yet those against him assumed his death proved them right; now on with business as usual, and get rid of this unpleasant episode. Time to put it behind and get on with rituals and religion.

And now a convenient coda to this drama—a man comes forward wanting to claim the body. Are the authorities surprised, or relieved? I would imagine they are very relieved, because this takes care of disposal in a discrete way. Pilate had already washed his hands, and now he could put it out of his mind. He probably thinks, “It is done; the body will be buried and forgotten, and this Jewish thing will quiet down.”

After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. (John 19:38-40)

Jesus had friends in high places. Joseph of Arimathea is given credit in all four gospels for going to Pilate and asking for Jesus’ body. In Matthew 27:57 he is described as a rich man; in Mark 15:43 it notes that he is a member of the Council, “a good and upright man.” It seems that he now became bold after being a secret follower of Jesus. Nicodemus is mentioned in John 19:39 as the one who helped Joseph take down Jesus’ body. His story begins earlier in John 3, as the Pharisee who visited Jesus at night. In their dialogue, Jesus is direct with him, explaining in verse 5, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.” Verses 14-15: “And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” So when Nicodemus saw Jesus lifted up on the cross, perhaps he realized it was time to commit. We also see how he argued fair treatment of Jesus in John 7:51: “Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?” And how fitting that on the day of preparation this man came prepared: one hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes! Those spices are found in an ode to a royal wedding (Psalm 45:7-8): “You love righteousness and hate wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions; your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia...” Jesus has sacrificed for his bride. Have we sacrificed for him by putting our lives in order?

Commentators suggest that one hundred pounds is much more than could have been placed in the linen which surrounded Jesus’ body. Was it out of love or guilt? We don’t know what motivated Nicodemus, but we can examine our own preparations. Are we “cleaning house” in a ritualistic fashion? Will our fasting aid in cleansing and refreshing our hearts? Are we being filled with anticipation and joy?

Jesus has done the preparation and laid it all out for us. The time has come for us to be bold and claim the body of work that Jesus did. The time has come for us to be bold and claim the body of teaching that Jesus taught. The time has come for us to be bold and claim our birthright as children of God, to affirm our relationship to the Savior. The time has come to ask, “Am I prepared to meet Jesus either at death’s door or when he returns?”

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
* Note: All Bible references are from the NRSV.