JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA: DID HE KNOW?

Oh LORD, how mighty are You! You make us do things for You that we know not, yet we do.

This teaching is concerning Joseph of Arimathea. Joseph was a secret disciple of Jesus, a righteous man, and looking for the kingdom of God.

Arimathea is believed to be Ramathaim-zophim, the Ramah of Samuel’s residence. The birthplace of the Prophet Samuel. (1 Samuel 1:19-2:10)

Hannah’s Prayer: 1 Samuel 2:1-10

“My heart rejoices in the LORD;

My horn is exalted in the LORD.

I smile at my enemies,

Because I rejoice in Your salvation.

No one is holy like the LORD,

For there is none besides You,

Nor is there any rock like our God.

Talk no more so very proudly;

Let no arrogance come from your mouth,

For the LORD is the God of knowledge;

And by Him actions are weighed.

The bows of the mighty men are broken,

And those who stumbled are girded with strength.

Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,

And the hungry have ceased to hunger.

Even the barren has borne seven,

And she who has many children has become feeble.

The LORD kills and makes alive;

He brings down to the grave and brings up.

The LORD makes poor and makes rich;

He brings low and lifts up.

He raises the poor from the dust

And lifts the beggar from the ash heap,

To set them among princes

And make them inherit the throne of glory.

For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S.

And He has set the world upon them.

He will guard the feet of His saints,

But the wicked shall be silent in darkness.

For by strength no man shall prevail.

The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken in pieces;

From heaven He will thunder against them.

The LORD will judge the ends of the earth.

He will give strength to His king,

And exalt the horn of His anointed.”

Isn’t it interesting that Joseph of Arimathea was from this very place where Hannah spoke these words after Samuel was born? A wonderful backdrop for the stage where Christ was entombed.

Joseph of Arimathea offered his own tomb for Christ. If you think about this, Jesus took the place of Joseph and therefore, died in his place.

Did Joseph know beforehand what this tomb would be for? Represent? I don’t think he knew.

Oh LORD, how mighty are You! You make us do things for You that we know not, yet we do.

© Laveda D. Rockford