Two figures stood at different points at a fair distance watching the drama unfold. With tears in their eyes, they watched the crucifixion with disbelief that someone so unique, so divine, so good could be treated with such disrespect! They knew the evil proceedings that produced this horrendous scene had been concocted out of fear and resentment. They knew that evil manipulations hidden behind gross misunderstandings and cravings for power had driven these deliberations. The Sanhedrin never met in the middle of the night!
Each of these men had cast their vote to dismiss these fabricated charges, but they stood independently alone. The case now moved to Pilate who tried repeatedly to dismiss the charges against Jesus! His own home was tense due to the dreams and warnings of his wife!
Rarely had these men seen the determined resolve of the chief priests and their cohorts as they worked up the crowd to call for Barrabas’ release. All this took place while a bloodied, bruised and broken Jesus stood draped with mockery robes over his bloody back and a thorny crown pressed harshly on His head!
These two men – in their Pharisaic robes – each followed the crowd through the streets full of on-lookers. They kept their distance and watched from afar, not even aware of one another’s presence or common sympathies. From secluded spots a distance away, they watched as He carried His cross. When He stumbled and fell, they yearned to be there to help Him with His burden. They felt the relief when a stranger was drafted to help Him and carry His cross!
Upon arrival at ‘the skull’ things moved quickly as the soldiers nailed three men to their crosses and then dropped them into the pre-dug holes with a violent thud – Jesus hung between two common thieves who called out to Him in derision.
Our on-lookers watched as the women and a few of His followers stood at the foot of the cross. They longed to hear the exchanges taking place – especially between Jesus and His mother!
Shocked at the cruelty of the crowd who had once welcomed Him gladly and with great expectation, these two Pharisees wept and prayed from their unique, obscured vantage points.
Joseph was from a wealthy family and had risen to his religious position as a result. As the months unfolded he had secretly pledged himself to be a follower of this man. The authenticity of Jesus’ words and actions had won him over. He was deeply grieved at this turn of events
The other Pharisee was Nicodemus. He was a rabbi himself who had met secretly with Jesus to seek to better understand His message. He clearly recognized that Jesus could only do the things He did by having a special connection to God!
Two Pharisees. Two members of the Sanhedrin. Two who had been convinced that He was indeed the Messiah! Two bold men who did not fail to act when necessary.
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One would have thought that Jesus’ disciples would be the ones to take him down from the cross. If not them, then perhaps the very women who stood by Him to the end would try to find a way to get Him down. We do know that they watched from a distance and took note of the location of His tomb so that they could bring spices to anoint Him at the end of the Sabbath!
But of all the oddities, who would have expected two Pharisees to collaborate and care for the body of Jesus?
Joseph of Arimathea used his connections to plead with Pilate for permission to care for the body of Jesus in a rush before the beginning of the Sabbath. The soldiers had broken the legs of the two criminals to speed their death. They didn’t have to break the legs of Jesus; He had already surrendered His spirit to God!
Imagine Joseph – aided by Nicodemus – putting up a ladder and wrapping a cloth under the arms of Jesus, who was then gently lowered to the ground.
Were they wearing their Pharisaic garb? They were surely bloodied in this process!
Once they had Jesus’ body on the ground, they would have covered His nakedness and wrapped Him. Did they use a cart to get Him to the tomb? How far away was it? Did others help [the scripture only mentions these two]?
They had to hurry! Dusk signaled the beginning of the Sabbath!
Remarkably, Nicodemus had thought ahead and had gathered nearly one-hundred pounds of a mixture of myrrh and aloes to embalm Jesus as they wrapped Him for burial!
After significant effort in rolling the giant stone into place at the entrance to the tomb, these two exhausted Pharisees completed their labor of love!
These religious leaders were not aware that they were being watched in this process. Mark’s gospel tells us that “Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were looking on to see where He was laid.” [15:47]
John tells us that “Mary Magdalene came early (Sunday morning) to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb…” [20:1].
How did she find the tomb in the dark? She followed her nose! Nearly 100 pounds of myrrh and aloes led her directly to the place where He had laid!
Minutes later, the risen Lord would stand before her and honor all women forever by making His first resurrection appearance to a woman – whom He had earlier delivered from seven demons!
