Get links to my best stuff in your inbox

 

Home

After The Death Of Jesus — No Honor From Men

After their death, the lives of former presidents have been honored by various ceremonies of remembrance. For example, we were impressed with the pageantry with which President Ronald Reagan was remembered, and moved by the warm sentiments expressed in his honor, not only by the leaders of our country, but world leaders as well.

As the people of America, we do well to recognize and appreciate the public service of those who have held our land’s highest office. As my wife and I watched the memorials for President Reagan on television, I could not help contrasting the circumstances of his death with the death of our Savior that occurred nearly 2,000 years ago.

When Jesus died, there were no parades in the streets. No caissons rolled down the streets. No flags were lowered. No government employees received a day off work with pay. No dignitaries wrote glowing letters of eulogy or delivered heartfelt speeches in praise of the One who died. No trumpeter played “Taps.”  No rifle brigade fired a 21-gun salute. The world did not pause in its daily activities to reflect upon our Savior’s accomplishments. In fact, the world paid very little attention at all.

When the Son of God and Creator of the universe died on the cross at Golgotha, no regiment of crisply-uniformed soldiers in dress attire stepped forward to bear His remains away. Instead, a lone man named Joseph presented himself to the governmental authorities, asking for the privilege of removing Jesus’ body for burial (cf. Matthew 27:57-60; Mark 15:42-47). Only one other man — Nicodemus — joined Joseph in the solemn task of embalming the body of Christ, wrapping it in linen, and laying it in a hillside tomb (John 19:38-42).

When Jesus died, the ruling powers did not take counsel together to determine how best to acknowledge Him publicly, or what honors to bestow upon Him in death. Instead, the leaders of the Jews went to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate to demand that guards be set over Jesus’ gravesite, so that His disciples could not perpetrate a hoax by stealing His body, then claiming He was resurrected. Pilate complied with their wishes by furnishing a detachment of soldiers, telling them, “Make it as secure as you know how” (Matthew 27:62-66).

When Jesus’ body was committed to the tomb, there were no endless lines of mourners filing past to pay their final respects as He lay in state. Because of the Sabbath, even Joseph and Nicodemus left Him without fanfare following their hasty ministrations. On the morning of the third day, when Christ had already departed the grave, only three women — Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome (Mark 16:1), came to visit the place where He had been buried. When the women reported His rising, only two of Jesus’ apostles — Peter and John, came to see the marvel for themselves (John 20:1-10).

It is indeed sad to think how little honor from men Jesus garnered at His death in comparison to many other men who have lived upon the earth. But it is of no consequence, for the day is coming when every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:9-11; Romans 14:11).

The honor of men for the Savior of mankind may be late in coming, but on that awesome day, it will never be more fitting for the glorious Lamb of God (Revelation 5:6-14).