The Body
After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. John 19:38
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 not say that he took Jesus and wrapped Him and laid Him in the tomb. Of course, the reason is simple. It’s because Jesus wasn’t in His body anymore. It was simply what Jesus needed to operate in physical this 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, His earth suit.
There are many thoughts about where Jesus was during those three days when His body was in the tomb. 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 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 recognize that you are not what you look like on the outside. That is simply a home that the real you lives in. 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. Realize 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: John 19:38-42
38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus.
39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.
40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.
41 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.
42 So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.
The Daily Dose 