Station 13 – The Body of Jesus Is Taken Down From the Cross
John 19:38-40
After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.
Jesus’s sacrifice for us was thoroughly selfless and purely perfect. Humans sacrifices’ for others can never be perfect because that is how God created us. We are fallible and imperfect. When we try to show unbiased and unconditional love and care to other human beings, we are loving and living in Jesus Christ’s image to the best of our frail, human ability. I believe that that is the way He intended it when He sacrificed Himself for us.
When Joseph of Arimathea brought Jesus’s body down from the cross and laid Him to rest, he was treating Jesus with great reverence, care, and respect. In doing so, he was not only showing his love for our Lord Jesus, but he also exhibited Jesus’s love in the gentlest way. Especially since Joseph performed this act of kindness, despite the repercussions that might have befallen him.
In our daily lives, we have the opportunity to show our love for Jesus by showing love and compassion to other people. We do this by showing kindness to a friend or family member in need, or even more difficult, showing kindness to a stranger or an enemy. Being Chaplain of the St. George Middle School, the theme of loving your enemies is one that I try to emphasize frequently, as nothing is more difficult. I believe that nothing could better embody Jesus’s love than caring for those who have wronged us. Another principle that goes along very well with kindness and compassion is respect. Just like Nicodemus showed the utmost respect for Jesus Christ by bringing Him myrrh and aloes to anoint His body, we must also show others respect.
As Christians and followers of the Lord, we all strive to keep Jesus our priority in all that we do. So, how exactly do we do that? Since Jesus sets such an astounding example for us, I believe that the best we can do is set the best example we can for others. By letting God’s light radiate through us various ways, we can truly exemplify what it means to be a follower of the Lord.
So, at the end of my homilies in chapel, I always give my peers a challenge or something to think about throughout the week. So, I will leave you with this:
What actions are you going to take to show that you are a true follower of Christ? Are you willing to love your enemies? Will you set an example for others?
-Sophie Velez
