John 19:31-42 (New American Standard Bible - NASB)
 
Care of the Body of Jesus
 
Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation,
so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on
the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked
Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they
might be taken away.
So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first
man and of the other who was (crucified with Him; but
coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already
dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the
soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and
immediately blood and water came out. And he who has
seen has (6) testified, and his testimony is true; and
he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you
also may believe.
For these things came to pass (7) to fulfill the
Scripture, "not a bone of him shall be broken." And
again another Scripture says, " They shall look on him
whom they pierced." 
 
After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a
disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the
Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of
Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and
took away His body. Nicodemus, who had first come to
Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh
and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. So they
took the body of Jesus and (17) bound it in (18) linen
wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of
the Jews. Now in the place where He was crucified
there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in
which no one had yet been laid.  Therefore because of
the Jewish day of (21) preparation, since the tomb was
nearby, they laid Jesus there.
 
MEDITATION:
 
JESUS WAS DEAD. The same disciples who gathered
around him when he came into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday
have gone into hiding. Some of them denied knowing
him. Only the women stayed with him until the bitter
end. What were they thinking? They probably felt
alone, abandoned, betrayed. After all, they had
called him Savior, King, Master. Now he was gone. 
What would happen to them? Would they suffer the same
fate? Had they put their trust in the wrong man? 
What would they do now?
 
JESUS WAS DEAD. Nicodemus, a leading Pharisee, “a
ruler of the Jews”, and a member of the Sanhedrin had
spoken up for Jesus in the Sanhedrin, suggesting their
injustice in condemning a man without fair trial. 
Joseph of Arimathea, believed to be a rich man, was a
member of the Sanhedrin, too, and a secret follower of
Jesus. When Jesus was taken off the cross they boldly
asked Pilate if they might have the body. Nicodemus
provided the spices for the embalmment and assisted in
the burial in the tomb which Joseph of Arimathea had
prepared for himself in a garden nearby. The death of
Jesus so touched these men that they “went public”
with their beliefs.
 
JESUS WAS DEAD. When a loved one dies, the bereaved
goes through the same steps the disciples must have
experienced. Denial – anger – shock – bargaining –
guilt – panic – depression and finally, acceptance. 
None of the disciples really understood what Jesus had
told them about rebuilding the temple in three days. 
Many of us stand at the grave of one who has died and
feel only the overwhelming sense of our loss. We
cannot remember that the person has entered into
eternal life, even though we have been taught to
believe this. So must the followers of Jesus have
felt.
 
JESUS WAS DEAD. We know now that with Easter morning
came the glorious resurrection, but his mother, Mary
Magdalene, Salome, Peter, Paul, John, James and all
the other disciples did not have that assurance. In
our darkest moments, we must remember Easter – and
that we cannot have an Easter experience without Good
Friday.
 
PRAYER:
When the death shades round us lower,
Guard us from the tempter’s power.
Keep us in that trial hour
Hear us, Holy Jesus.
 
May Thy life and death supply
Grace to live and grace to die.
Grace to reach the home on high.
Hear us, Holy Jesus. AMEN
(Hymn #112 – LBW) *
 
*When I was a child, this hymn was sung in between the
readings of the Passion of Christ on Good Friday.
 
Rosemary Sinniger, Abiding Presence Lutheran Church