John 19:38-42
Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.
“Notice what you notice.” Today we close out Jesus’ “Passion” with John’s account of Jesus’ burial. Today marks 32 days from the time that we first read about Jesus’ going to the Garden of Gethsemane until the last account of Jesus’ burial. In most of our past readings we would have read this Passion in all four Gospels in 3-4 days. What a difference these short bursts make!! I’ve seen so many things that I had never seen before and have had greater understanding than ever in my past. And admittedly, even though Jesus’ Passion was a big part of my Catholic upbringing, I think I’ve grown closer to Jesus through our last months’ readings. Thank you, Lord!
So, more on Joseph and Nicodemus… When we have three or four Gospel accounts covering the same event, I try not to look ahead, instead trying to read these passages almost like I am seeing them for the first time. So with Joseph of Arimathea, when we “met him” a few days ago I knew that he was a secret follower of Jesus, but now we have that confirmed by John’s Gospel. And I wonder how he must have felt, being a member of the Council but hiding his true feelings. John reports Joseph’s “fear of the Jews” (v. 38) as his reason for being a secret follower, but now no longer!! I mentioned a few days ago that Joseph’s life would be forever changed. Now I wonder the extent of that change, both for him and for Nicodemus. Were they ostracized by the Jewish leaders? Were they part of the later persecution of Christians that we read about in Acts? We never hear about them again, but I wonder. I like to think that they became avid followers (evangelists even!), that their “forever changed” lives would have blessed thousands of others, and that in the end they would again see the Jesus whom they so lovingly cared for in that final episode of His earthly walk. What a blessing they are to us on this side of the Resurrection! Glory!!
Slava Bohu!