In the Gospel of Luke 23:50 Joseph of Arimathaea is more then a follower of Jesus, but a Councilor of the Sanhedrin. The importance of this fact is that to be a follower and man of the court seemed in opposition of each other. Yet he was like Nicodemus a scribe who also followed Jesus. Two men would lay to rest the body of Jesus. Joseph having a tomb already prepared for the next burial of someone he knew. A hole drilled into stone and a hole in the tomb made to lay a body in for burial. Nicodemus and Joseph would of performed certain burial customs of the Jewish people but there was still more purification of the body to be done, but it would have to wait until after the Sabbath, and the women could handle this job.

The Jewish religious began to worry Jesus body might get stolen, and so request the Rome leaders for guards for the tomb of Jesus. After the soldiers came Mary who sat and kept watch departed for the Sabbath day drew near. Why did Joseph care he had role to play in story, not because of who he was but because of who Jesus was. He was a follower, not necessarily a believer, but someone who knew the works of Jesus. Understood the language he spoke and probably worried if he might face death for being a son of God and a religious leader by the hand of the Romans because of this uprising about Jesus. One would think with the empty tombs because of the resurrection of the holy men old that there were enough empty graves around. Yet Jesus would not be laid in used tomb but a new borrow tomb. This was not disciples or any of the Mary’s hometowns outside of Jerusalem in a place called Golgotha. Stealing of the body of Jesus would of meant several things, that a resurrection was fake and pre thought out. The thievery would only cause an uprising of Jesus’ disciples. The whole situation seems insane when the though of empty tombs and dead rising. Yet they had a reason to worry about Jesus rising, but if he could rise did they really think they could hold him in the grave? See Jesus would rise from the tomb on the third day after an earthquake. Those tremors perhaps had not ended or a whole new earthquake began to shake the earth.

Yet I wonder about shock of the people in Jerusalem as well as the priesthood and the Roman’s. Had these events seem like a dream, or impossibility? No wonder Roman government could not keep a lid on what had happened especially when Christ came out of the tomb. In the book of Revelations it talks about two witnesses being taken up into heaven. The book of Revelation is the testimony of Jesus/Word of God. Jesus will ascend after appearing to Mary to his Father in heaven. Time period of taking the people home perhaps that had risen from the grave. The only thing left is the return of Jesus. The only thing today we wait on is the return of Christ.

Why are all these events important around the cross to give testimony of the hope of salvation and redemption through belief in Jesus? This story is known about but few teach it. Few make mention of it because the resurrection of Jesus alone was hard to believe. After two thousand years of waiting for Jesus return man is still long for proof to increase in their faith in something that they were not around for. Man searches evidence through scriptures of these events because the lack of historical evidence. No bones, no proof one was even there. The story seems incomplete for some, who look for answers beyond the grave. Yet in reality something more is given to the believers of Christ, prophecy, healing and miracles that still go on today. All these things are told for the purpose to bring all people to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Yet in truth all these things are scrutinized for the one reason of looking for evidence of it being a lie instead of truth. There are those that would like to disprove over belief.

Faith in Jesus and God is important for salvation and belief in the Holy Spirit does not prevent but enables the Spirit to work and move within the group of believers. Even Jesus could not do many miracles among many none believers. It makes one wonder why did not God prove himself to them. Perhaps it the same reason today, there are some destine for the judgment because of unbelief. How do you convince someone in chronic pain there is hope beyond that pain. How does one convince one that is crippled beyond repair God is able, when He does not move to heal? The question is what are you looking for to be able to receive a healing? Healings were done to glorify God and to bring people into God’s family. Yet can people ride the coat tails of every church planting in hopes of a miracle. Every new growth of life of the church, the government will certainly try. Yet the problem of church planting is still the issue Jesus had, people come for curiosity as well as faith. If lack of faith prevents, then what different then a church one attends every week already in place. My own faith before the healing was not always yes Lord, I am waiting for your will to be done in my life. Yet that is my prayer even today. I know God is real, but I can not be the one to convince you it will take act of God in your life. Whether your faith began as a child or an adult with no proof or evidence until He came into your heart, then it must have been the conversion alone to convince you that there is real person with in your heart that speaks to your soul. If the conversion convinced you of reality of God and Christ then the bonus of a miracles and wonders because of faith is greater, for you know He lives.

Dear Heavenly Father the convincing of the conversion of faith in Christ Jesus was enough as a child to know you are real, but also to know your Son was for me. Yet thank you for the miracles in my life as continual proof. In Jesus precious name, Amen.