John 19 21/21 challenge

In John chapter 19 there is so much to take away from reading this chapter.

Verse 38-42 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being 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 the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.

These verses get me every time. Joseph and Nicodemus display a great sense of courage as they tend to Jesus’ body after he was crucified. I don’t know if you know it or not, but the great majority of criminals that were crucified were left suspending on their crosses for their body rot or to be eaten by creatures. Yet, Romans had a heritage of releasing the bodies of the deceased men to family and friends for proper burial as a result of the Jews not wanting to see the display of the deceased body on the cross during Passover season.