Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Saturday, 19 April 2014 "They saw the tomb"

Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Saturday, 19 April 2014  "They saw the tomb"
Reflection Question:
Luke reported two unexpected acts after Jesus died. The Roman centurion, after directing the crucifixion, "praised God, saying, 'It's really true: this man was righteous.'" That testimony might have been especially telling to a person like Theophilus (cf. Luke 1:1-4). The Romans meant crucifixion to create humiliation and fear, so they often left crucified corpses in the open. Belatedly, Joseph of Arimathea, a council member and silent dissenter at Jesus' mock trial, went public to give the body a decent burial. No one expected the resurrection, but Joseph's act unwittingly made Easter more powerful, because Jesus' friends knew just where his body was.
Scholar N. T. Wright sums up today's passage: "It really happened. It wasn't a mistake. We didn't get it wrong. It's true. You can rely on it. This is the main point of Luke's account of Jesus' death and burial. He began his book telling Theophilus he could rely on these facts, and now that the most vital one is before us he presents his witnesses one by one. The centurion saw….The crowds standing by saw….Jesus' followers, not least the women, stood at some distance, but they too saw….Then the burial: again, the women saw what happened….Evidence. Eyewitnesses. This is what Luke promised, and this is what he's now giving us." Every witness, every fact was vital—on Easter, an otherwise incredible, one-of-a-kind event was coming. Ponder how different Jesus' impact on your life would be if the story ended here.
Family Activity:
Celebrate Easter! Prepare a simple breakfast treat. You will need crescent roll dough, large marshmallows, melted butter, cinnamon and sugar. Wrap a crescent roll triangle around a marshmallow. Dip the roll in melted butter, then in the sugar and cinnamon. Bake the rolls according to package directions. The marshmallow will disappear and leave an empty, sweet surprise. At Easter breakfast, read John 20:1-14. Invite each family member to take one bite out of his or her roll. Celebrate that the tomb is empty (like the roll), and Jesus rose and is alive! Consider baking an extra batch and sharing with your neighbors along with the good news of Easter!
Today's Prayer:
Dear Jesus, you walked into the darkest prison I know of: the prison of death. You went there with a purpose: to break the doors of that dark place wide open. Thank you for bringing light into darkness, life out of death. Amen.
Daily Scripture: Luke 23:47 When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man.” 48 All the multitudes that came together to see this, when they saw the things that were done, returned home beating their breasts. 49 All his acquaintances, and the women who followed with him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
50 Behold, a man named Joseph, who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man 51 (he had not consented to their counsel and deed), from Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who was also waiting for God’s Kingdom: 52 this man went to Pilate, and asked for Jesus’ body. 53 He took it down, and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that was cut in stone, where no one had ever been laid. 54 It was the day of the Preparation, and the Sabbath was drawing near. 55 The women, who had come with him out of Galilee, followed after, and saw the tomb, and how his body was laid. 56 They returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
Insight from Bryan Cisler
Bryan Cisler serves as the Digital Media Specialist at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection.
When I read this story I try and put myself in Joseph of Arimathea’s shoes. You have a prestigious position in the council. You are presumably in good standing with the community. All of your colleagues think that the man they just crucified was a real threat to the community. How easy would it have been to rationalize to yourself that doing nothing is the best option?  Stepping out of line and taking it upon yourself to bury Jesus is a real risk.  Joseph didn’t know Jesus was going to be resurrected. Joseph didn’t know how important his role was in the greatest story that’s ever been told – a story that’s impacted billions of people over the last 2,000 years. It doesn’t appear he was looking for any recognition either. He wasn’t trying to “make his mark.”  All he knew was that Jesus was wronged, and Joseph was going to give him a proper burial.
As you read this story, think of a time in the last year you defended somebody that the masses felt didn’t need defending. Maybe it’s something even as simple as speaking up for a family member or coworker who is being gossiped about. Maybe it’s a politician that you and your friends don’t particularly care for. For me, I am generally a “go with the flow” type of person. I am not sure that’s always a good thing. I think it’s a natural reaction to want to be liked and accepted by those around you. That can make it difficult to speak up. But as this story shows, sometimes God’s plans are more important than how we want others to perceive us.
-------