I’ll use Psalms 123.:1-3, 8:1 and 16:2

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Luke 23. The Mind of the Spirit engaged the spirit of my mind at verses 50-51:

Luke 23:50 ¶ And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:

Luke 23:51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.

It’s the word behold that caught my attention. An imperative, it’s a command, and it’s an exclamation, an emphatic call to notice something, or someone. The Spirit calls our attention, very specifically, and emphatically to this man and his deed.

He was named Joseph, he was “a counsellor” (a member of the Sanhedrin, and the council that convened to crucify Jesus), a good man, and just (Luke 23:50); he had not given his consent to the counsel of Caiaphas that Jesus must be destroyed (John 8:14; see Matthew 27:20), nor to the “deed of them” (Luke 22:2; see Matthew 27:35). Furthermore, Joseph was of a city named Arimathaea, probably Ramoth (Rama — Matthew 2:18 — in the vicinity of Bethlehem), who waited for the kingdom Jesus came to offer (Luke 23:51). Behold this man. And behold his deed.*

His noteworthy deed, recorded in each of the four Gospels: Joseph owned a tomb in the garden near Golgotha, he personally petitioned Pilate to allow him to take the body of Jesus off the Cross and lay it in his tomb. See how this is emphasized: Joseph begged Pilate to authorize him to bury the body of Jesus (Luke 23:52; Matthew 27:58), he craved the body of Jesus (Mark 15:43), and he besought Pilate to release to him the body of our Lord (John 19:38).

Along the still waters I beheld many things in this story, among them, these. God used another Joseph in the birth story of His Son,  and chose this Joseph for His burial: Joseph was present, and attended the delivery of the body of God’s Son from the womb; another Joseph was present, and attended the delivery of the body of His Son to the tomb.

I noticed the emphasis on “the body of Jesus” (Luke 23:52-53; Matthew 27:58; Mark 15:43; and John 19:38). Jesus once cried out to His people: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you” (John 6:53). He explained that His words were to be taken “spiritually” (John 6:63). Spiritually, eating His flesh refers to receiving Jesus as Christ manifest in flesh (John 1:13; 1 John 7; 1 Timothy 3:16).

Joseph regarded the “body” of Jesus as precious, to be honored, to be respected. When Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, He explained the bread represented His. body: “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body” (Matthew 26:26). Paul cautioned us against trivializing the body of our Lord, receiving the “bread” unworthily (1 Corinthians 11:29). The Spirit warned us of serious consequences for not “discerning,” (showing respect, giving due honor, regarding with esteem, showing deference and recognition of the distinction of a thing or person) the Lord’s body (1 Corinthians 11:29).

“Unworthily” is an adverb, it describes an action, or the behavior of someone. The Spirit was offended that the Corinthians came to the “Lord’s Supper” in a cavalier spirit, dismissive of the solemnity, the significance, the mystery, and the glory that was, is, represented by the bread.

Joseph of Arimathaea had a proper regard for the body of our Lord.

In the valley, I reflected on the fact that Joseph, who had been a “secret disciple” came out publicly for the Lord. Going before Pilate to beg, crave, the body of our crucified Lord outed him. Interesting that Joseph, who was a secret disciple, among those who would not speak of Him openly for “fear of the Jews” (John 7:13; John 19:38), would become so bold and open about his faith at a time when it would have been most dangerous to do so.

That is what the Cross does: emboldens our faith, brings out the best in us—see the Centurion who at the cross and looking at the mangled body hung there smote his breast and said, “Truly this was the Son of God” (Mark 15:39; with the crowd gathered there—Matthew 27:5).

Joseph “saw” the LORD that day, and the Spirit of the Lord said to us, see the man who saw Him rightly! Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16).

Behold, the example of Joseph, who understood that Jesus is the Christ, God manifest in flesh. Thomas didn’t quite see it until after the resurrection (John 20:28).

As I worshipped in the shadow of His Cross, I head the voice of my Shepherd: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up is cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). I heard and followed (John 10:27).

At the table, He anointed my head with His oil, filled my cup to overflowing, and led me into His harvest: goodness and mercy following close. As we walked along, He spoke to me of the Body of Christ, His Church. Selah!

Praying for revival! 🙏

Going live asap:

https://rumble.com/v7hm31s-shepherds-pasture-behold-the-body-of-christ.html

[*We also know that Joseph was friend to Nicodemas, and shared with him a “secret” admiration, and dedication to Jesus (See John 3—Nicodemas, also a ruler of the Jews, who came to Jesus by night, for a secret conference. See John 19:38-42, where Joseph is identified as a “secret disciple.” See Matthew 27:57-60 where we are told Joseph was a rich man, a disciple of Jesus (John 19:38), owner of the tomb in which Jesus was buried.]