Funerals are Important accompanying scripture is Matthew 27:57-61. We meet Joseph of Arimathea for the first time at the burial of Jesus. He steps out of the shadows and springs into action while the original disciples of Jesus still hide wallowing in their guilt, fear and brokenheartedness. Matthew, the gospel writer calls him 'a disciple. He is a disciple when no one else seems to be.

Joseph takes full charge of Jesus' funeral. He takes courage to face Pilate asking him for permission to bury Jesus. After receiving the permission, Joseph goes into action to perform the burial according to the Jewish culture of the time. He takes Jesus' bloodied body down from the cross. Then, with some help, he carries the body to the tomb and places it on the flat, long stone surface. He then washes the body, puts a perfumed ointment on Jesus' body and wraps it in linen. He prays and puts the oval stone on the mouth of the grave and leaves. The funeral is finished.

Is this important?

Is a funeral important?

It seems to be so anticlimactic and pointless.

Why not wallow in the misery of brokenheartedness, confusion and disorientation?

Is it possible that properly organised funerals help us deal with both brokenheartedness as well as confusion and disorientation that the death of a special person in our lives creates in us?