“He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:9)

The prophecies concerning Jesus Christ provide for us validations for the life, message and hope which Jesus brings to mankind. These prophecies even include information about Jesus’ burial. In the Servant Songs of Isaiah, he describes the suffering servant who would be a picture of the Messiah to come. The Messiah to come is Jesus. At the death of this servant, he would be included with the wicked. While Jesus was perfect and sinless, He was executed between two thieves, the wicked. The men who executed Jesus were also men of violence and could be call wicked. We also know that all men are sinners and in the eyes of God wicked. Paul said, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) In contrast to the wicked, Isaiah said concerning the servant, “he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:9b)

The Suffering Servant would also be given a grave among the rich. A silent disciple of Jesus is now moved to action after the death of Jesus. Joseph of Arimathea is described by John as a silent disciple. “Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders.” (John 19:38) Luke would say of Joseph, he was “a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. . . . and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 23:50-51) Matthew included that Joseph was a rich man. (Matthew 27:57) We also know that Joseph must have had some influence because he was able to gain an audience with Pilate and receive permission to care for Jesus’ body. Joseph, along with Nicodemus, prepared Jesus’ body and place Him in Joseph’s personal tomb.

At Jesus’ burial, we see the actions of those who loved Him. There are also the actions of those who had Him crucified. They wanted no chance of a story to be fabricated that Jesus rose from the dead. So, they also went to Pilate.

“’Sir,’ they said, ‘we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ ‘So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.’ ‘Take a guard,’ Pilate answered. ‘Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.’ So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.’ (Matthew 27:63-66)

Jesus had been placed in the tomb by those who loved and believed in Him. The tomb is sealed and guarded by those who resented Him. Everything is in place.

It is the same today; there are those who know Him and love Him. There are also those who reject Him or simply ignore Him. It all comes down to one morning and one event that changes everything.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block