Joseph taking Jesus’ body in accordance with Jewish burial customs

John 19:31-42

But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,”  and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.” 

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. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

The death of Jesus brings two secret disciples out into the open. Only John mentions the part played by Nicodemus.

Why?

It is one more testimony that shows Jesus that no one of his bones will be broken, and his body was pierced. Jesus is the Messiah.

Joseph asked Pilate for the body of Jesus, under this situation no one dear to went out and have any relationship with Jesus, but Joseph asked for Jesus's body and accordance with Jewish burial customs. Joseph is a disciple of Jesus.

--------------

耶穌死了以後不斷應驗聖經的預言。打斷腿，因為重量落在兩手，容易窒息而死。血和水流出表示已經死了。此事有目擊證人，此話為真的。仰望自己所扎的人，撒加利亞書2。肋骨旁被槍扎！逾越節要在屋裏吃，表示骨頭不能折斷。同樣耶穌在十架上骨頭沒有折斷，身體完整的獻上。羅馬兵不可能聽這話，神卻早已安排整個細節。我們生活中大大小小的事情都在神的掌握中，都有神的美意、安排。

亞利馬太人約瑟，不再暗暗的做門徒，尼哥底母。耶穌不是按照猶太人的習俗放在公會的墳墓。人都是軟弱的，約瑟，尼哥底母都是從怕事，到出來勇於承擔，他們在最軟弱的時候，沒有任何希望，好處的時候，返回的機會，不怕被責備，冒被逐出公會的危險，仍願意出來。耶穌已經死了，他們還是為了耶穌擺上。一百斤沒藥和沉香，即50公斤抹藥。他們可以說是以生命來跟隨，且付出大把銀子。我們是為什麼而奉獻?為了回應主的愛！

-------------

How?

No matter openly or not, the action shows how much we love Jesus is more significant than any others.