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V RaptureChrist Newsletter
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Nicodemus was an important Pharisee in the time of Christ. He was a teacher of the law with an inquisitive mind. I believe Nicodemus came to see Jesus at night because he wanted to keep it a secret from the other Pharisees. John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: Nicodemus was sincere in his desire to know
the truth. Although Nicodemus did not understand what Jesus meant, he had the highest opinion about Jesus and spoke out in his favor. John 7:47-52 “You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. “Has any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.” Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, “Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?” They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.” Later on Nicodemus became a disciple of Christ and both him and Joseph of Arimathea organized Jesus' burial. |
Joseph of Arimathea was a rich man who became a disciple of Jesus. He was a member of the Jewish High Council and was present at the Sanhedrin when they were deliberating to have Jesus put to death. Because he was a righteous man he did not agree with this decision.
Luke 23:50-51 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council, but he had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other religious leaders. He was from the town of Arimathea in Judea, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. Christ was crucified with two criminals. The fate of criminals was to be thrown in the city dump and to be burned up. This could not happen to Jesus, so Joseph of Arimathea went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of our Messiah. Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. (Joseph was an honored member of the high council, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.) The Bible tells us that Joseph was rich. This is important because the old testament prophesied that Jesus would be buried in a rich man's grave. Matthew 27:57-60 When the evening was come, there came a rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. Joseph of Arimathea bought that night the linen cloth to wrap the body of Jesus. Mark 15:43 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre. Nicodemus assisted Joseph in preparing the body of Jesus. For more details see Time of Christ's Burial. John 19:39-41 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. The prophet Isaiah foresaw the death of our Messiah. Isaiah 53:9 And he shall give the ungodly for his burial, and the rich for his death: because he hath done no iniquity, neither was there deceit in his mouth. |
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