The burial and its preparations. I think there are two main points here. One -- Jesus really is dead. Two -- this work was done in secret. It might also be pointed out that the two disciples who did this did not expect a resurrection - or at least not a resurrection in three days -- they prepared him in traditional manner - which included balms to keep the stench down.
new light -
Both disciples involved -- Joseph and Nicodemus -- work in secret and are themselves secret disciples. This ain't Peter and James. Is John maybe trying to say something about the faithfulness and devotion of secret Christians?
truth -
Not sure what true to my experience might mean here.
There are in every church and every Quaker meeting folks who run the show -- are big time "weighty Friends" -- for whom doing the work is an important part of their sense of who they are and also a big part of their public persona.
What about the quiet folks who don't say much don't seem to do much? Maybe they are as faithful in their own way -- maybe at times more faithful -- in times and places we never see.
implications -
But when you pray, go to your private room, shut yourself in, and so pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:6
problems -
no troubles
image above is William Blake's Entombment btw -- just thought Larry would like to know
6 comments:
Hi David. It's interesting how the disciples didn't expect Jesus to be resurrected. If you believe in the miracles (I do) then you would think that they had seen him raise people from the dead - they should have been prepared such a thing happening. But we take it so much for granted ... if we were in their shoes, I don't think we would have seen it coming either.
but he taught in parables.
And the story in Luke of the disciples on the road to Emmaus -- shows that it took the spirit of Christ to teach them afterwards before they really understood.
Re: Matthew 6:6
Neal Douglas-Klotz, an Aramaic scholar has a beautiful translation of this scripture:
When you want to lay yourself open for the divine,
like a snare that is hollowed out to its depth,
like a canopy that projects a shadow
from the divine heat and light
into your soul,
then go into your inner place physically,
or to that story or symbol that reminds you of the sacred.
Close the door of your awareness to
the public person you think yourself to be.
Pray to the parent of creation, with your inner sense,
the outer senses turned within.
Veiling yourself, the mystery may be unveiled through you.
By opening yourself to the flow of the sacred,
somewhere, resounding in some inner form,
the swell of the divine ocean can move through you.
The breathing life of all reveals itself
in the way you live your life.
Lots of good stuff here, friends. I appreciate the post and all the comments.
I'm especially grateful for that Blake link. It looks wonderful.
Re Joseph of Arimetheia:
Legend has it that he was Jesus' uncle, owned a tin mine in Cornwall, and that Jesus himself as a young man perhaps visited England with Joseph. He is associated with Glastonbury,
supposedly the first Christian center in Britain (among other things like the burial of King Arthur).
BTW we spent the last three days visiting our son, Professor Mark at a conference in Palm Beach. Otherwise I would have tuned in sooner.
The legend inspired one of my favorite Blake poems, especially as set to music, Jerusalem which can be found at http://www.wildewood.co.uk/lyrics/jerusalem.php"
And did those feet in ancient time,
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God,
On England's pleasant pastures seen?
Oh yes; the wildwood url seems inactive, but I found another one:
http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/16114 and it's well worth reading, and even learning.
It's the introduction to Blake's large poem entitled Milton.
For years it's been sung as a hymn, and seemed to be the special anthem of the English labor movement (maybe a british commenter can help us with this).
Near the end is this pregnant line: "Bring me my Chariot of fire!" The movie of that name concludes with a chuch congregation singing the hymn.
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