This Week's Story
click here to play audioWas Jesus going to stay in His tomb?
This Week’s Story relives American history and the Bible through brief inspiring stories presented on mp3 audio recordings and text for reading.
A Short Burial, part two
Joseph and his friend stood looking at the cross. Jesus was hanging there, nailed through hands and feet. The person they knew was not in this body. Where was he?
“Nicodemus, help me. I do not know how to take him down.”
“We will loosen his hands and then his feet.”
The body slipped into Joseph’s arms. Both men lifted Jesus into the carriage.
“We will take him to my tomb. It is new and it was carved for me. We will clean and prepare his body.”
Both men felt awkward. Jesus could heal lepers. He could stop a storm on Lake Galilee. Yet, his body lay before them.
They stared at the sign on top of the cross. On it was the name Pilate had written to identify Jesus. It was written in three languages—Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. Joseph and Nicodemus whispered the words—Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews.
A slight smile crossed the face of Joseph. “The Romans, had it right. Jesus is King of the Jews and He is my king.”
Nicodemus spoke softly, “Be careful, Joseph, you are speaking treason. The Romans declare that Caesar Tiberius is our king. We are to have no authority above him. Jesus was executed on the charge of challenging that authority. The Jewish leaders set him up for that charge.”
“Nicodemus, once you secretly spoke with Jesus. Remember the truth he told you.
“‘For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.
‘For God sent not his Son into the world, to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.’
“I HAVE GONE PUBLIC. I AM A BELIEVER IN JESUS. I will not be a coward even if I lose my position in the Jews’ ruling body, the Sanhedrin. Pilate, our local Roman leader, now knows my belief. The Jewish leaders will know it. I have disagreed with how the Sanhedrin arrested and examined Jesus.
“Even Pilate did not want to pronounce the death sentence upon Jesus. The Jewish leaders manipulated the charges and Jesus was delivered to Roman soldiers for execution.
“The murder they plotted is exactly what Jesus planned. He had told His followers, ‘The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.’
“We heard Him, but we did not understand.”
“Joseph, let us prepare him for burial and place his body in the tomb. Soon the large rock you have there will block the entrance to the tomb, and the Romans will place guards by it.”
“I agree, Nicodemus, but do not be surprised if his body disappears and He arises.”
The morning of the first day of the new week came. Two female followers of Jesus came to the tomb. They found the stone was rolled away. Inside the tomb a young man told them, “You are looking for Jesus, who was crucified: he is risen.
“Go tell his disciples.”
For primary information I studied the last chapters of the first four books of the New Testament of the Bible. Fascinating!
Today’s recording is prepared by Todd Warren, Nathan Thomas, and Barbara Steiner.
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