The Body
When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. Matthew 27:59-60
As I read through this passage, it occurred to me that when Joseph of Arimathea asked for and took the body of Jesus to be buried, it is clear that it was only His body. The scripture says he took the body and wrapped it and laid it in the tomb. It does say that he took Jesus and wrapped Him and laid Him in the tomb. Of course, we know the reason is because Jesus wasn’t in His body anymore. It was simply what Jesus needed to operate in this physical world. It was a temporary dwelling place for Him while He was here. When He died on the cross, He (the real Jesus) left that body/earth suit.
There are many thoughts about where Jesus was during those three days when His body was in the tomb. However, my point is that we all have these physical bodies, but they are not who we really are. The real “you” is what makes your body move. Your physical body is a vehicle that takes you where you want to go and does the things you command it to do. Your spirit person is the one that is actually in charge and when you are done with your body, the real you will leave it and it will be left to be buried just as Jesus’ was.
Now we know Jesus came back for His body. When He moved back in, His body changed into a glorious state. His body became incorruptible and immortal. It means it could no longer die or deteriorate. If you have received God’s gift of salvation through Jesus’ blood and sacrifice, then one day you will have an incorruptible body too. You will walk in a glorified body for all eternity, always to be with your Lord Jesus in your resurrected glorious home.
Today I want to encourage you to know that you are not what you look like on the outside. That is simply a home that the real you lives inside of. Don’t let your outside appearance be the only beauty that is seen. Let the true beauty of your love for others shine through in your smile and kindness. Recognize that the looks you have today are only temporary and are fading away. Don’t get caught up on trying to be the most attractive body in the room. Instead, be the one with the kindest and most generous heart. Let the outside world see that you are more than what the human eye can see. There is an awesome person inside that can be the most beautiful person in the room, everywhere you go.
Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 27:57-66
57 Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus.
58 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him.
59 When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
60 and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.
61 And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.
62 On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate,
63 saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’
64 Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.”
65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.”
66 So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.
The Daily Dose 