Joseph of Arimathea
October 24
John 19:31-42
A stranger’s tomb
By mid-afternoon, Jesus had died. Because it was a special Sabbath day the next day, the Jews did not want to leave someone hanging on a cross. So the soldiers broke the legs of the two men hanging next to Jesus to make them die quickly. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. However, one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, causing blood and water to flow from the wound.
After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple, went to ask Pilate for permission to take the body of Jesus down from the cross. Then Joseph and Nicodemus wrapped the body of Jesus in a long linen cloth with the spices used for burial.
There was a big garden near the hill where Jesus was crucified. It so happened that Joseph owned an unused tomb in the garden, so they laid the body of Jesus in the tomb and rolled a large stone in front of the entrance.
How do we know that Jesus is the promised Messiah?
‘Messiah’ is a Hebrew word meaning the Anointed One—the One sent from God to save us (Micah 5:2-5). Hundreds of years before Jesus came to earth, God gave Old Testament prophets and writers some signs that would help people recognize Jesus when He came.
Although it may seem obvious to us that they were speaking about Jesus, the Jews living at that time saw Jesus as a normal man and not the promised Messiah—the Son of God.
So how can we be sure that Jesus is the promised Messiah? Here are just three of the many prophecies that came true on the day Jesus died:
They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing (Psalm 22:18).
He protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken
(Psalm 34:20).
“They will look on me, the one they have pierced”
(Zechariah 12:10).
Verse for today
"We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). John 1:41