Day 7

Scripture to Read: John 19:38–42

After Jesus died, His followers wanted to make sure His body was taken care of before the Sabbath began. God had John record this in John 19:38–41: “After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body. 39 Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.” God does not have John mention that the tomb belonged to Joseph of Arimathea. But, God had Matthew mention this in Matthew 27:60. God had Luke give us a little more detail about Joseph in Luke 23:50–51, “Joseph, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man 51 (he had not consented to their plan and action).” Joseph was a follower of Christ. God also had John mention Nicodemus, who became a follower of Christ. Both of these men were wealthy and could have had servants care for the body of Christ, but they did it. These men had been changed by their Messiah, and they humbly and graciously prepared Jesus’ body for burial.

Challenge & Application

• Why did Joseph and Nicodemus choose to care for the body of Jesus? What had happened to them for them to do this? • How has your life been radically changed by your Lord, and what do you do differently because of choosing to follow Christ?

Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!

Devotionals from this week

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Day 1

Jesus had been handed over to be crucified. We read in John 19:17, “They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha.” We would not have the full picture if we did not have the other Gospels. Here is what God has given us in Matthew 27:32–33, “As ...

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Day 2

God only had John mention this in John 19:18: “There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between.” But God had Matthew record this in Matthew 27:33–34: “And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, 34 they gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it,...

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Day 3

Jesus had stood before Pilate just hours before, and though Pilate feared what he had done, Jesus had made it clear to Pilate that he had no authority over Jesus other than what God the Father had given him. It’s hard to say what went through Pilate's mind, but God had John record this in John 19:19–22: “Pilate also wrote an inscription and p...

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Day 4

The soldiers played a vital role in fulfilling prophecies about our Lord Jesus Christ. God had John record this in John 19:23–25: “Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. 24 So they said to one ano...

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Day 5

God had John record something special that the other three gospels do not have recorded. We read in John 19:25–27, “…But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He *said to His mother...

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Day 6

Jesus had spoken to John about His mother, Mary, and then God had John record this in John 19:28–30: “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, *said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and b...

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Day 7

After Jesus died, His followers wanted to make sure His body was taken care of before the Sabbath began. God had John record this in John 19:38–41: “After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So...

Read