As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

--Parallel verses:
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19‬:‭23‬-‭26‬
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

I have heard people call out the rich for being so rich. I have heard them lump all rich people into the category of oppressive, opportunistic, and cold-hearted. And there are some rich people who embody these things.

But here we have an example of a rich man who risked public reputation and business relationships to come out as a friend of Jesus, by asking for his body to bury. He gave his newly dug out tomb for Jesus’ dead body to lie in. (The wealthy in this time had private tombs built.)

Where would we be were it not for Joseph of Arimathea, the rich disciple of Jesus?

From his generous gift to Jesus, we have a protected place for his body to rest and a place for his resurrection to take place. There are many rich people who have served God and been generous with their money over the years. I, for one, am thankful for them.

I also notice here that some of his female followers were here to watch over his body. What precious souls they were.

So yes, it is harder for a rich man to enter heaven than a camel to go through the eye of the needle. But impossible things are not hard with God. With God, all things are possible. This also means that other skills, challenges, and shortcomings can be overcome through God’s power, as well.

Lord, thank you that you redeem broken people, people like the rich, that many people write off. You redeemed me. May my resources be used primarily to multiply your kingdom with disciples.