Word@Work from BeaconLight
SECRETIVE, FEARFUL BUT BRAVE
John 19:38-42 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no-one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was near by, they laid Jesus there. (NIV)
Jesus was dead. As far as the Romans and religious leaders were concerned, it was the end of the story. The case was closed. But two men knew there was unfinished business. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were members of the Sanhedrin who sentenced Jesus to death: although Joseph had not agreed (Luke 23:50-51 ). Joseph was a secret disciple and Nicodemus was a secret admirer. They knew there was a lot more to Jesus than the authorities had seen. They were probably motivated by grief and guilt to burst through their own fear barriers to ask Pilate for possession of the body.
Joseph, who was very wealthy, decided to put Jesus in the tomb which had been created for him; a cave hacked out of the rock with a millstone to seal its entrance. The two men carried the body of Jesus and embalmed it at their own expense. It was the least they could do to show that they respected Him. However, it was all in God’s plan. Isaiah prophesied 700 years previously: “He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:9). Joseph and Nicodemus may have done it to settle their consciences, but no good action can ever take away the guilt of sin. The fact is that Jesus died so that all those who trust Him might have a clear conscience because He paid for all their sins ... even the sins of cowardice, inactivity, inaction and injustice.
Our human nature is easily frightened and, in order to save ourselves, we may be secret about Jesus, but there comes a point where we cannot be secret any longer. As the Holy Spirit urges us to publicly identify ourselves with Jesus, we never know what may happen; but we do know that we have done the right thing. And we can trust the Lord to honour us as we step out of the protective cave of our own fear.
Prayer: Living Lord. Thank You that while we are alive there is still time to honour Jesus, to identify with Him and be unashamed of the Saviour of the world. However, please forgive me for the times when I have failed to speak up for Jesus or honour Him in my lifestyle. Please help me not to be intimidated by the Evil One, his agents, or the people around me. Please give me the courage to say that I belong to Jesus, and make the lifestyle decisions which demonstrate that my words are true. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Jesus was dead. As far as the Romans and religious leaders were concerned, it was the end of the story. The case was closed. But two men knew there was unfinished business. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were members of the Sanhedrin who sentenced Jesus to death: although Joseph had not agreed (Luke 23:50-51 ). Joseph was a secret disciple and Nicodemus was a secret admirer. They knew there was a lot more to Jesus than the authorities had seen. They were probably motivated by grief and guilt to burst through their own fear barriers to ask Pilate for possession of the body.
Joseph, who was very wealthy, decided to put Jesus in the tomb which had been created for him; a cave hacked out of the rock with a millstone to seal its entrance. The two men carried the body of Jesus and embalmed it at their own expense. It was the least they could do to show that they respected Him. However, it was all in God’s plan. Isaiah prophesied 700 years previously: “He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:9). Joseph and Nicodemus may have done it to settle their consciences, but no good action can ever take away the guilt of sin. The fact is that Jesus died so that all those who trust Him might have a clear conscience because He paid for all their sins ... even the sins of cowardice, inactivity, inaction and injustice.
Our human nature is easily frightened and, in order to save ourselves, we may be secret about Jesus, but there comes a point where we cannot be secret any longer. As the Holy Spirit urges us to publicly identify ourselves with Jesus, we never know what may happen; but we do know that we have done the right thing. And we can trust the Lord to honour us as we step out of the protective cave of our own fear.
Prayer: Living Lord. Thank You that while we are alive there is still time to honour Jesus, to identify with Him and be unashamed of the Saviour of the world. However, please forgive me for the times when I have failed to speak up for Jesus or honour Him in my lifestyle. Please help me not to be intimidated by the Evil One, his agents, or the people around me. Please give me the courage to say that I belong to Jesus, and make the lifestyle decisions which demonstrate that my words are true. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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