John 19:38

John 19:38 says, And then, after this, Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave.  He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. We have to wonder why Jesus' closest disciples were not there to ask for permission to bury Jesus, but at least one of His followers was. Sometimes, those who appear to be the closest to God may not be the ones to get done the things that need doing, for whatever reason, but God will have someone in place who will.  There are countries today where followers of Christ follow Him in secret for fear of other religious leaders, but Joseph was a disciple in secret for fear of God's chosen people.  Though he should have declared himself openly a follower of Christ, at least in the crisis he did, and so should we today.  We find no other mention of this Joseph, but he had an important role in the crucifixion of Christ.  Even after Jesus was crucified, Pilate still had to give permission for His body to be removed, but Joseph, if he had fear of asking him, overcame it.  Had the body of Jesus been removed by the soldiers, it would have been buried with the thieves and robbers.  Verse thirty-nine adds, And there came also Nicodemus, who came at first to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myhrr and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.  Nicodemus was another who had come to Jesus in secret, but he was now openly declaring himself a follower.  He was also supplying what was needed to care for the body of Jesus.  We need to be willing to give whatever we can to meet the needs of God's people as we openly serve Him.  Verse forty continues, They took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.  They may have seen this as a normal Jewish burial, but it was far from it.  The body really did not need to be preserved, but it was good they were willing to do so, no matter the personal cost.  Verses forty-one says, Now in the place where He was crucified was a garden, and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was no man yet laid.   Verse forty-two adds, There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jewish preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.  They needed to bury Jesus quickly because of a religious feast.  Again, the Jews were more concerned with rituals than with a relationship with God.  People today travel to see the tomb of Jesus, but it was never His.  The tomb, like the cross, was soon empty and the exact location is not really important.  It only matters that it was but a temporary place for the body of Christ.