This Isn't the End

N.T.#660 "This Isn't the End"

Oct. 28, 2025

Luke 23-Part 9

LET IT GLOW 

Anyone feel like you are in a dark tomb right now? Is life too heavy? Burdens wearing you down? Do you seem to be alone down there? Jesus knows how you feel.

What was to come of Jesus' body after He died? He had a mother, unbelieving brothers at that time, a few followers and disciples at 33 years of age. The crowd went home in deep sorrow. Their hope was gone.

Except, one called Joseph of Arimathea. Who was this man?

• He was from a community, Arimathea, about 20 miles northwest of Jerusalem. He was waiting for the kingdom of God to come. Joseph was a secret disciple/follower of Jesus.
• He was a member of the Sanhedrin, a brave believer in Christ as Messiah. He didn't agree with the decision and actions of the council.
• He was a good and just man.(verse 50)
• Evidently, Joseph was a wealthy man and had a tomb built for his own family, so it was unused.
• He took a risk and asked Pilate for the body of Jesus to bury. (verse 52)
• He was joined by Nicodemus, who came to Jesus by night, to wrap the Messiah's body with spices in long sheets of linen cloth.(John 19:38-40, NLT)
• The two men brought 75 pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. (John 19:41)
• They had to hurry with the preparation, for the Sabbath Saturday was coming.(verse 54)
• The two laid Jesus' body in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, where no one had been laid before. (verse 53)
• They rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre and departed. (verse 60)

It was done, over, finished, so they thought. 

LET IT GROW

The Pharisees and chief priests went to Pilate because they thought Jesus' followers would steal His body and say He was risen. Jesus had told people that after 3 days, He would rise from the dead. They didn't want any of that to happen, so they asked for a stone, sealed, in front of the tomb and guards to protect it. So it was.

We can read about the Suffering Savior in Isaiah 53. 

The women followers did not have time to prepare Jesus' body for burial, because the sun was setting soon. They returned home to prepare the spices. Little did they know that the spices were not necessary for the Savior was going to rise out of the tomb and to life! The tomb isn't the end.

LET IT GO

Father, fix it for us, for we can't.

Heal our hurting hearts.

Word of God speak, pouring down like rain.

May we rest in Your holiness.