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EASTER STORIES: A MAN CALLED JOSEPH

BEYOND THE GRAVE
A man called​ Joseph.

Joseph was born and bred in the city of Arimathea. He, like his fathers before him, was a leader of the Jews. He was respected and loved by the people. One could tell from a mile off that he wasn't a man of titles but one desirous to see the kingdom. Despite his enormous wealth, his humility and simplicity was unparalleled.

Joseph was a disciple of Jesus. The words Jesus spoke gave him assurance that the Messiah had come. He followed Him secretly, if he had openly confessed his faith in Jesus there would have been an uproar among the Jewish leaders. His life and family would have been endangered. Joseph loved Jesus and followed Him even up to the place of His death.

As events at the cross unfolded, Joseph couldn't contain himself anymore. He ran to corner of the street, weeping. Joseph couldn't help blaming himself for not doing enough when the plots to crucify Jesus was being raised. "I should have fought them, I should have stopped them." He said amidst tears.

The things he had just seen were too much to bear. The loud shout of Jesus as He gave up the ghost kept ringing in his ears. His wife and children gathered round him in consolation as he kept saying "The Messiah is gone, the hope of Israel is killed!" Joseph's wife terrified by his shouts and tears sent for Nicodemus.

By the time Nicodemus arrived, Joseph had gone to Pilate. He reckoned that the least he could do now was to openly show that he believed in Jesus and would give Him a decent burial. When Joseph's wife saw Nicodemus and those who came with him, she wasn't sure Nicodemus could console anyone since he himself was pale from grief.

When Joseph got to Pilate, he pleaded for the body of Jesus. Pilate couldn't believe that He had died so soon. Pilate expected it to be at least a day before anyone would die on the cross. "... But He has been there just a few hours?" He asked blankly. He sent some of his men to confirm and they returned with news that Jesus was dead.

Pilate knew the Jewish leaders had special interest in this person they called "King" so he wasn't keen on releasing the body to Joseph. After much plea, he gave permission to Joseph to collect the body.

Nicodemus joined Joseph with a handful of men and they brought down the body of Jesus. They wrapped Him in clean linen with spices and laid His body in a new tomb owned by Joseph close the place of crucifixion.

As they went they bowed their heads​ in defeat. "Could this be the end?" Joseph asked Nicodemus. "Could this be the end of Israel's redemption?"

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