The Healing Jesus: An Advent Devotional to Encourage Anybody and EverybodySample

JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA: THE ONE WHO BURIED JESUS

My name is Joseph. I am from Arimathea, a town outside Jerusalem. Everyone knows me as the guy who donated his tomb to Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross, I went to Pilate and asked for Jesus's body. I owned a man-made cave cut out from a large rock. There's a beautiful garden surrounding the stone. I couldn't think of a better place to bury Jesus. I wanted to give to Jesus the very best. But I didn't always feel that way.

I had been hearing about this Jesus guy for over three years. As a council member, I was proud of my Jewish heritage. I worked hard to rise to be where I was and had money and status to show for it. But no matter how hard I worked, I always felt empty. My good buddy, Nicodemus, felt the same way. He was braver than I was and reached out to Jesus to get to the bottom of what Jesus kept preaching about. When Nicodemus came back, I could see a change in him. He told me what Jesus said and how he made him feel. What he said changed me, too.

I wanted to be born again and belong in this kingdom of God. Every time I heard of it, something in my heart leaped. I had read and studied everything I could, but this was different. It felt like a cold drink of water after being dry and dehydrated.

When I heard he was being crucified, something in me broke. I missed my chance. As I fell to my knees, suddenly, I felt an overwhelming sense of love and peace. After all he'd given me, I knew there was still one last thing I could do. I could honor Jesus's body. With the help of Nicodemus, we gave him a proper burial, wrapping him with linen and using spices and ointments.

I'm thankful my tomb was not the end of Jesus's story. I will be buried in that tomb someday, but it will not be the end of my story either. Jesus finally found me, and now I am a part of the kingdom of God I was searching for my whole life.

Jesus is healing hearts and restoring hope, even when all seems lost.

Questions for Talk it Over:

1. What was the last way that Joseph honored Jesus?

2. Have you felt overwhelming discouragement this year? What happened?

3. What words remind you that Jesus is still at work, even when everything seems lost?