* * * T E X T O N L Y ~~ N O A U D I O * * *
READINGS FROM HOLY SCRIPTURE:
Job 19:23-27
1 Corinthians 5:6-8
- St. Mark 16:1-8
Grace, Mercy, and Peace are secure for you from God our
Father, through our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus the Crucified of God!
Who speaks to us, even today, and we have been given ears to hear:
Thus far from our Gospel reading this morning, included by God in His Word for us to know and believe in the tomb of Jesus. And that belief and knowledge should point us to the very true and historical fact that Jesus died and was buried, and that the tomb was and is today, very very empty.
This applies to two areas for us. First that we can be certain that the Bible is true, historically and religiously, and second that it is also true for the rest of the world, to which we are to go out into and share the Truth.
Joseph of Arimathea is a very important figure in history, for he was given charge of the Holy Grail. In his last words, carved within the Cave of Caerbannog, he writes, “He who is valiant and pure of spirit may find the Holy Grail in the Castle of aaaaggghhh”.
But that is a silly story and not ours today.
Our story is that is man is a very crucial reason we know there was a tomb of Jesus. All 4 Gospels say that Joseph of Arimathea was the one who owned the tomb and had the body of Jesus put there. So who was St. Joseph of Arimathea?
St. Joseph of Arimathea was a Biblical figure who assumed responsibility for the burial of Jesus after his crucifixion. Three of the four canonical Gospels identify him as a member of the Sanhedrin, calling him a “member of the council” (Mk 15:43) while the Gospel of Matthew identifies him as a rich disciple of Jesus.
St. Matthew 27 describes him simply as a rich man and a disciple of Jesus (v.57), but according to St. Mark 15, Joseph of Arimathea was "a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God" (v.43). St. Luke 23:51 adds that he "had not consented to their decision and action".
According to John 19, upon hearing of Jesus' death, this secret disciple of Jesus "asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission." Joseph immediately purchased a linen shroud and proceeded to Golgotha to take the body of Jesus down from the cross. There, Joseph and Nicodemus took the body and bound it in linen cloths with the spices (myrrh and aloes) that Nicodemus had brought. Luke 23:55-56 states that the women "who had come with him from Galilee" prepared the spices and ointments.
These courageous disciples then moved the Body of Jesus to a man-made tomb, hewn from rock in a garden nearby. The Gospel of Matthew alone suggests that this was Joseph's own tomb (27:60). The burial was undertaken speedily, "for the Sabbath was drawing on" and “the tomb was near” (Jn 19:42).
Joseph answers the question of whether or not Jesus was really buried in the tomb. Not just because he had a tomb ready and close by, but because he is a very unlikely candidate for burying Jesus. For one thing, he as a member of the Sanhedrin, the very council that voted, voted mind you!, to condemn Jesus.
This is probably why St. Luke made sure to mention that Joseph did not consent, probably wasn’t even there for the vote, as Jesus said, “this is your hour and the power of darkness” (Lk 22:53). I’m willing to say that even Nicodemus was not there as well or any other faithful, real Jew at that time.
In fact, given the early Christian anger and bitterness towards the Jewish leaders who crucified Jesus, its highly unlikely that the Christians writing the gospels would choose Joseph to give Jesus an honorable burial or make him up as a character in their fake religion, according to the world. Especially when all the disciples deserted Him!
Not only that, but no one else tried to write a competing story of Jesus’s burial to try and remove Joseph. thus, by trusting the Joseph of Arimathea was a real, historical figure, we can trust the gospel accounts that Jesus was buried and rested in the tomb, just as our creeds tech us.
Which brings us to another interesting fact. Though older than the copies of the gospels we have physically, 1 Corinthians is not older in time, and it records a very early creed which also teaches of Jesus’s burial. This we hear on the 11th Sunday after Trinity and says:
“For l delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to The Twelve. Then He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles.” (15:3-7)
And even though St. Paul does not say “empty tomb”, it is there. The resurrection has to do with bones, just as we will hear in Ezekiel 37, next Sunday, the valley of dry bones. And then, Jesus will say to His Apostles, “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” (Lk 24:39).
Implicitly but quite clearly then, by St. Joseph of Arimathea and our own, historical creeds, an empty tomb was left behind. Thus was fulfilled as was written by the Prophet, “And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth” (Isaiah 53:9).
Thanks be to God for the Lord’s servant Joseph of Arimathea, who with reverence and godly fear prepared the body of our Lord and Savior for burial, and laid it in his own tomb: Grant, to us, O Lord, Your faithful people grace and courage to love and serve Jesus with sincere devotion all the days of our life; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end:
Of Whom, St. John Chrysostom from the 4th century, preaches:
If any man be devout and love God, let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast.
If any man be a wise servant, let him rejoicing enter into the joy of his Lord.
If any have labored long in fasting, let him now receive his recompense.
If any have wrought from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward.
If any have come at the third hour, let him with thankfulness keep the feast.
If any have arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; because he shall in nowise be deprived therefore.
If any have delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near, fearing nothing.
If any have tarried even until the eleventh hour, let him, also, be not alarmed at his tardiness; for the Lord, who is jealous of his honor, will accept the last even as the first; he gives rest unto him who comes at the eleventh hour, even as unto him who has wrought from the first hour.
And he shows mercy upon the last, and cares for the first; and to the one he gives, and upon the other he bestows gifts.
And he both accepts the deeds, and welcomes the intention, and honors the acts and praises the offering.
Wherefore, enter you all into the joy of your Lord; and receive your reward, both the first, and likewise the second.
You rich and poor together, hold high festival. You sober and you heedless, honor the day.
Rejoice today, both you who have fasted and you who have disregarded the fast.
The table is full-laden; feast ye all sumptuously. The calf is fatted; let no one go hungry away.
Enjoy ye all the feast of faith: Receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness.
Let no one bewail his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one weep for his iniquities, for pardon has shown forth from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Savior's death has set us free.
He that was held prisoner of it has annihilated it.
By descending into Hell, He made Hell captive.
He embittered it when it tasted of His flesh. And Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry: Hell, said he, was embittered, when it encountered Thee in the lower regions.
It was embittered, for it was abolished.
It was embittered, for it was mocked.
It was embittered, for it was slain.
It was embittered, for it was overthrown.
It was embittered, for it was fettered in chains.
It took a body, and met God face to face.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took that which was seen, and fell upon the unseen.
O Death, where is your sting? O Hell, where is your victory?
Christ is risen, and you are overthrown.
Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen.
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice.
Christ is risen, and life reigns.
Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave.
For Christ, being risen from the dead, is become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages.
Forever and ever.
Amen.
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
Who speaks to us, even today, and we have been given ears to hear:
“Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week,
they came to the tomb when the sun had risen”
Thus far from our Gospel reading this morning, included by God in His Word for us to know and believe in the tomb of Jesus. And that belief and knowledge should point us to the very true and historical fact that Jesus died and was buried, and that the tomb was and is today, very very empty.
This applies to two areas for us. First that we can be certain that the Bible is true, historically and religiously, and second that it is also true for the rest of the world, to which we are to go out into and share the Truth.
Joseph of Arimathea is a very important figure in history, for he was given charge of the Holy Grail. In his last words, carved within the Cave of Caerbannog, he writes, “He who is valiant and pure of spirit may find the Holy Grail in the Castle of aaaaggghhh”.
But that is a silly story and not ours today.
Our story is that is man is a very crucial reason we know there was a tomb of Jesus. All 4 Gospels say that Joseph of Arimathea was the one who owned the tomb and had the body of Jesus put there. So who was St. Joseph of Arimathea?
St. Joseph of Arimathea was a Biblical figure who assumed responsibility for the burial of Jesus after his crucifixion. Three of the four canonical Gospels identify him as a member of the Sanhedrin, calling him a “member of the council” (Mk 15:43) while the Gospel of Matthew identifies him as a rich disciple of Jesus.
St. Matthew 27 describes him simply as a rich man and a disciple of Jesus (v.57), but according to St. Mark 15, Joseph of Arimathea was "a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God" (v.43). St. Luke 23:51 adds that he "had not consented to their decision and action".
According to John 19, upon hearing of Jesus' death, this secret disciple of Jesus "asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission." Joseph immediately purchased a linen shroud and proceeded to Golgotha to take the body of Jesus down from the cross. There, Joseph and Nicodemus took the body and bound it in linen cloths with the spices (myrrh and aloes) that Nicodemus had brought. Luke 23:55-56 states that the women "who had come with him from Galilee" prepared the spices and ointments.
These courageous disciples then moved the Body of Jesus to a man-made tomb, hewn from rock in a garden nearby. The Gospel of Matthew alone suggests that this was Joseph's own tomb (27:60). The burial was undertaken speedily, "for the Sabbath was drawing on" and “the tomb was near” (Jn 19:42).
Joseph answers the question of whether or not Jesus was really buried in the tomb. Not just because he had a tomb ready and close by, but because he is a very unlikely candidate for burying Jesus. For one thing, he as a member of the Sanhedrin, the very council that voted, voted mind you!, to condemn Jesus.
This is probably why St. Luke made sure to mention that Joseph did not consent, probably wasn’t even there for the vote, as Jesus said, “this is your hour and the power of darkness” (Lk 22:53). I’m willing to say that even Nicodemus was not there as well or any other faithful, real Jew at that time.
In fact, given the early Christian anger and bitterness towards the Jewish leaders who crucified Jesus, its highly unlikely that the Christians writing the gospels would choose Joseph to give Jesus an honorable burial or make him up as a character in their fake religion, according to the world. Especially when all the disciples deserted Him!
Not only that, but no one else tried to write a competing story of Jesus’s burial to try and remove Joseph. thus, by trusting the Joseph of Arimathea was a real, historical figure, we can trust the gospel accounts that Jesus was buried and rested in the tomb, just as our creeds tech us.
Which brings us to another interesting fact. Though older than the copies of the gospels we have physically, 1 Corinthians is not older in time, and it records a very early creed which also teaches of Jesus’s burial. This we hear on the 11th Sunday after Trinity and says:
“For l delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to The Twelve. Then He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles.” (15:3-7)
And even though St. Paul does not say “empty tomb”, it is there. The resurrection has to do with bones, just as we will hear in Ezekiel 37, next Sunday, the valley of dry bones. And then, Jesus will say to His Apostles, “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” (Lk 24:39).
Implicitly but quite clearly then, by St. Joseph of Arimathea and our own, historical creeds, an empty tomb was left behind. Thus was fulfilled as was written by the Prophet, “And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth” (Isaiah 53:9).
Thanks be to God for the Lord’s servant Joseph of Arimathea, who with reverence and godly fear prepared the body of our Lord and Savior for burial, and laid it in his own tomb: Grant, to us, O Lord, Your faithful people grace and courage to love and serve Jesus with sincere devotion all the days of our life; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end:
Of Whom, St. John Chrysostom from the 4th century, preaches:
If any man be devout and love God, let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast.
If any man be a wise servant, let him rejoicing enter into the joy of his Lord.
If any have labored long in fasting, let him now receive his recompense.
If any have wrought from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward.
If any have come at the third hour, let him with thankfulness keep the feast.
If any have arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; because he shall in nowise be deprived therefore.
If any have delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near, fearing nothing.
If any have tarried even until the eleventh hour, let him, also, be not alarmed at his tardiness; for the Lord, who is jealous of his honor, will accept the last even as the first; he gives rest unto him who comes at the eleventh hour, even as unto him who has wrought from the first hour.
And he shows mercy upon the last, and cares for the first; and to the one he gives, and upon the other he bestows gifts.
And he both accepts the deeds, and welcomes the intention, and honors the acts and praises the offering.
Wherefore, enter you all into the joy of your Lord; and receive your reward, both the first, and likewise the second.
You rich and poor together, hold high festival. You sober and you heedless, honor the day.
Rejoice today, both you who have fasted and you who have disregarded the fast.
The table is full-laden; feast ye all sumptuously. The calf is fatted; let no one go hungry away.
Enjoy ye all the feast of faith: Receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness.
Let no one bewail his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one weep for his iniquities, for pardon has shown forth from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Savior's death has set us free.
He that was held prisoner of it has annihilated it.
By descending into Hell, He made Hell captive.
He embittered it when it tasted of His flesh. And Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry: Hell, said he, was embittered, when it encountered Thee in the lower regions.
It was embittered, for it was abolished.
It was embittered, for it was mocked.
It was embittered, for it was slain.
It was embittered, for it was overthrown.
It was embittered, for it was fettered in chains.
It took a body, and met God face to face.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took that which was seen, and fell upon the unseen.
O Death, where is your sting? O Hell, where is your victory?
Christ is risen, and you are overthrown.
Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen.
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice.
Christ is risen, and life reigns.
Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave.
For Christ, being risen from the dead, is become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages.
Forever and ever.
Amen.
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
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