Editor’s Note: For regular subscribers, occasionally the name that appears on the top of Monday Meditations is not Dr. A.J. Higgins. That is a glitch on our part. These meditations are always written by Dr. Higgins and we are profoundly grateful to the Lord for enabling him to share from the Scriptures rich truth concerning our Lord Jesus Christ that causes worship to ascend from our hearts.
Joseph … took unto him his wife (Mary): and knew her not until she had brought forth her first-born son. Matthew 1:24-25 KJV
Joseph… and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son. Matthew 1:24-25 NASB
There was a rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph … he went to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus. And there was Mary Magdalene and the other Mary sitting over against the sepulcher. Matthew 27:57,58, 61 KJV
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus… This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the grave. Matthew 27:57,58,61 NASB
There was a Joseph and Mary present at the Lord’s birth; there was a Joseph and Mary present at His death and burial. While the names may be coincidental, there are striking similarities and even more striking contrasts.
At the birth of the Lord Jesus, Mary was more prominent than Joseph. We are told that “she brought forth her firstborn son” and that she “wrapped Him in swaddling clothes” (Luke 2:6). There were no midwives or neighbors to assist or rejoice with her. Joseph was there but seems to have played a minor role. Luke seems to turn the spotlight of Scripture on Mary alone.
At the burial of the Lord, it is Joseph who is active as all four Gospel writers record, and Mary Magdalene is the spectator. Joseph takes the initiative with his prepared tomb, his bold entrance into Pilate, and his gentle handling of the body of His Lord.
At His birth the body of the Lord was “entrusted” to Mary to protect and for care; at the Lord’s death, Joseph of Arimathea had the wondrous privilege of caring for His body. At His birth, He was wrapped in swaddling clothes by Mary, while at His burial He was wrapped in fine linen by Joseph.
The first Joseph was a poor carpenter; the second Joseph was a rich counselor. Mary, the mother of the Lord, was a virtuous young Jewess, saturated with the Word of God as indicated by her song of praise (Luke 1:46-55). Mary Magdalene was a woman out of whom the Lord had cast seven demons. Yet, despite great disparities and backgrounds and privilege, both were devoted to and loved the Lord Jesus.
A rich man and a poor; a young sheltered teenage girl and a woman whose past was marked by Satanic domination; what brought them to spheres of usefulness was the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Social rank or its lack, poverty or its opposite, a sad and even sordid past or a sheltered upbringing – none of these can limit a soul whose heart has become enraptured with Christ.
Consider:
Can you find other comparisons and contrasts?