Lent

[Stella180]

Wow that was beautiful.

[Suzi]

That was beautiful. Totally beautiful.

I love Footprints.. It's something that I've come back to so many times and it always brings tears to my eyes. It was years ago that I was talking about faith to a friend of mine who is one of the most religious people I've ever met - I love her, but sometimes it's a bit much itms? Well she was the one to introduce me to it and when we were talking it just "felt" itms?

[Paula]

Footprints is amazingly beautiful. I carry those words in my heart always

[Paula]

Luke 23:50-56
[50] Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, [51] who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. [52] Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body. [53] Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. [54] It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. [55] The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. [56] Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

Matthew 27:57
[57] As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus.

John 19:38
[38] Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away.

Joseph of Arimathea was a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Council, so one of the leaders. But he had also become a disciple of Jesus in secret. If he was ever going to come out into the open, this was it. (He was also very wealthy and had bought himself a tomb, which had not yet been used.) Going to Pilate and making his request was a big risk for him but, if he hadn’t, Jesus’ remains would have been thrown into a common grave. If he hadn’t, no one would have been able to say which were Jesus’s remains. Luke had to make it clear that Jesus had died (which had been verified by a Roman soldier and as Joseph and his men carried the body to the tomb). Also, Luke made it clear that a variety of witnesses had seen where he was buried - there was no question that people had ‘gone to the wrong tomb’ on Easter morning.

There’s also a symmetry in this passage. At Jesus’ birth, he was cared for by a man named Joseph, who laid him in a borrowed resting place. At Jesus’ death, he was cared for by a man named Joseph, who laid him in a borrowed resting place.....

[Suzi]

I always loved that it was a dude called Joseph who was the person who picked him up and took such an important, ever loving and tender job as taking him to somewhere safe and respectful as the tomb. I wonder how the convo went between Jospeh and Pilate went - "hey you I'd love to take Jesus's body to keep it safe", "but why?" "Because I think he's awesome and needs to be honoured..."
But this surely also shows something about Pilate too. He had the choice there to either allow Joseph to take him, understanding that Jesus did deserve to be taken down and treated differently to others who had been crucified - which proves that he's been moved by what happened... Or he had the choice to arrest Joseph for being a follower.... I wonder how he managed to remain seen to be doing the right thing, whilst allowing Joseph to take Jesus and give him the dignity and the honour he deserved...

[Stella180]

I’m pretty sure Joseph had a justified excuse for his reasons for wanting to tend to the body of Jesus. If he was hiding his allegiance so well am reasonable confident he would have a good excuse and his wealthy status and standing in the council no doubt played a big part too.

[Paula]

Actually, I suspect he’d have lost his place on the Council and been ostracised. The Jewish leaders were furious that the tomb was empty and that Jesus’ followers carried his message far and wide after his death - especially the news that he was resurrected

[Paula]

Luke 24:13-49
[13] Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. [14] They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. [15] As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; [16] but they were kept from recognizing him. [17] He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. [18] One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” [19] “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. [20] The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; [21] but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. [22] In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning [23] but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. [24] Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” [25] He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [26] Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” [27] And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. [28] As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. [29] But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. [30] When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. [31] Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. [32] They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” [33] They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together [34] and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” [35] Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. [36] While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” [37] They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. [38] He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? [39] Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” [40] When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. [41] And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” [42] They gave him a piece of broiled fish, [43] and he took it and ate it in their presence. [44] He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” [45] Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. [46] He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, [47] and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. [48] You are witnesses of these things. [49] I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Luke tells the story of a journey within a journey. This shorter journey explains the meaning of the longer journey that has occupied most of his Gospel. The 2 disciples explain what has happened over the past week, the events that have devastated their hopes. Jesus then walks them through a whole series of passages from the Old Testament that show these events were exactly what Scripture had promised would happen to the Messiah.

Jerusalem was Jesus’ destination, but it was not the end of the journey for his disciples. Just as he had set his face to go to Jerusalem, they must now set their faces to go to all nations to proclaim his gospel and to call people to repentance and faith in him.

[Suzi]

I think it's a great passage about their journey so far and foretelling what is to come...