Station 14

Jesus is laid in the tomb

John 19:38-42

Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. 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.

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Jesus died.

He really died.

Emmanuel died.

He breathed no more.

The Christ child died.

His heart stopped beating.

The Messiah died.

His brain stopped working.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, son of David, root of Jesse, Prince of Peace, King of kings, lord of Lords, Teacher, Prophet, Healer, Priest, Jesus Christ died.

The death on the cross is real.

Not some fairy tale.

Not superstition.

Reality.

God came into this world, lived and walked as we do, and died as we do.

Ashes to ashes.

Dust to dust.

Amen.