March 11

NT – Mark 15:1-47
Our scripture today is the crucifixion of Jesus. In Mark’s gospel, as in most of the rest of his gospel, the telling is spare, with few elaborations and few details. One detail that struck my interest was the passage about Joseph of Arimathea.
Arimathea is not located on any map. It is referred to as a ‘city in Judea’ and the town of Ramatha (the birthplace of Samuel) is often mentioned as the actual town.
Many legends surround Joseph but here is what is known from the scripture. Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin, the Grand Council of Jerusalem. He was wealthy and politically well connected. This was because the Sanhedrin was composed of 71 of the ruling elders of Israel. Since the Sanhedrin were the ones who prosecuted and recommended to Pilate that Jesus be killed, we can assume that Joseph was acting in direct opposition to what the Council wished. The gospel of John says that Nicodemus helped Joseph with the wrapping of the body but Matthew, Mark and Luke only mention Joseph.
Okay, now here is what is legend. Joseph of Arimathea was reportedly Jesus’ great uncle, the brother of Anna the prophetess who sees Jesus when he is brought to the Temple for his consecration on the eighth day. After the resurrection of Jesus, Joseph of Arimathea supposedly left for his tin holdings on the coast of Cornwall, Great Britain, the source of his wealth. There he supposedly established the church at Glastonbury, the oldest church in Great Britain.

Psalm 54
Here is another example of the power of names in the Bible. The Psalmist asks God to save him ‘by his name’. Remember the passage in Leviticus where the son of the Danite woman and the Egyptian man (Leviticus 24) used the name of the Lord as a curse and God had him stoned to death. In this case, the psalmist wants the Lord to destroy his enemies by using the name of the Lord.

OT – Numbers 15:17-16:40
I do not know what to say about chapter 16 in Numbers. In my pride and arrogance, I can see how the elders would challenge Moses. He is constantly making new decrees and the micromanagement of the Children of Israel would drive me crazy! But then I think about what it would take to move that many people that far, feeding everyone, settling the squabbles and the trials and tribulations, and I feel great admiration for Moses. And I get the whole concept of a challenge to Moses is a challenge to God. It just seems incredibly harsh to have all the wives, children and possessions swallowed alive by the earth. And all the 250 men burnt alive. If I had witnessed that, would I ever have challenged Moses again? I would think not. But I know it is coming and coming fast.

I hope you have a Blessed Sunday filled with family, friends and the nurture of Scripture.