Luke 23:52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. 53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. 54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. 55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. 56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment. 24:1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
A funeral is a customary part of death, and we preach ours by the way we live. The funeral custom has been passed down through all cultures. Although a funeral is unnecessary, it is necessary that we die. When we do, the earthly body must be taken care of.
The part between death and burial is the funeral. For some, the obituaries are the first thing we look at in the morning paper. There are various things mentioned: name, age, survivors, and arrangements if known. Sometimes the cause of death is given and sometimes a brief eulogy. Viewings are hard steps to take. A funeral reminds us of our own mortality, but it is intended to bring somewhat of a closure.
Some people have everything planned out. Some don’t want a funeral, but funeral or not, the body has to be taken care of. Have you thought about yours? Jesus did. He talked of Calvary and his suffering, death, and burial. He knew his bloodshed that was to come. He spoke of rising from the dead on the third day. Not one time did he mention a funeral; in fact he told them they could destroy “this temple” and in three days it would rise again. There was a deliberate absence of the mention of a funeral, and that is assurance for our faith in the Savior.
He died on the cross. Two disciples, not of the 12, asked permission to take his body. They took him to a tomb and placed him there. The women followed afar off. At no time was there a funeral performed. Jesus died at 3pm on high Sabbath and Passover began at 6pm. With only three hours there was no time for a funeral. There was no tomb or grave; one was given. The red tape for obtaining permission to get his body took time. He had to be wrapped in the linens for his body and the shroud for his face. The burial place had to be sealed. With all this to take place, nothing more could be done. It was vital it be done this way, and it had to be done within those three hours.
It was no accident that Jesus suffered from 9am to 3pm. He endured the heat of the day bleeding for the souls of mankind. One reason to hold on was the need to die for our sins and be buried. It was equally necessary that he have no funeral. What is the purpose of a funeral? It’s a long time of mourning for family and friends. There would be an exact way to anoint the body. A long procession to the burial place and final committal would take place. Not for Jesus. It wasn’t necessary. He wouldn’t be in the tomb long!
While the disciples hid, the women prepared spices for a proper funeral for their master. On the first day of the week, they went to carry out the stages of it. They intended to anoint his body and wrap it in a more proper way. They had forgotten his words. When they came to the tomb on Easter Sunday morning for a funeral, it was the funeral that never took place. It was too late on Friday for one and still too late on Sunday morning.
They went to the tomb because he was buried there, but Jesus didn’t show up for his own funeral! We all know if no one else shows up for a funeral, the dead person will, but here no one was dead. The women saw where he’d been laid. They saw the blood on the slab. They saw grave clothes, but no one was in them. It was as if a person got out of bed, took his pajamas off and folded them. Jesus wouldn’t put his back on. He knew the women were coming, but he didn’t stick around. Funerals are for dead people. Jesus was absolutely alive!
The time for our body to be taken care of will come, but we’ll die in the hope of the resurrection of the one who had no funeral.
We often treat our Savior as if he’s dead. We speak of him as if he was lying in state. Sure he died, but he’s alive forevermore. Let’s pray like he’s alive. Let’s live like we have a living Savior.
A funeral is good for the family, but it’s totally unnecessary for the deceased person. I won’t be there for mine. I’ll be in glory. We won’t be present at our own funeral because Jesus wasn’t present for his! I’m glad Jesus didn’t have a funeral! Aren’t you?
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 