“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.” (Matthew
27:57-61)
Joseph had a lot to risk by becoming a
follower of Jesus. He was a wealthy man
and Mark calls him a “prominent member of the Council.” (Mark 15:23) His power, his position, his wealth, his
respectability were all at risk by openly showing himself to be a follower of
Christ. But Joseph was willing. He couldn’t be a secret follower of Jesus.
Jesus said that the risk was worth it. Whatever we lose for the sake of the Gospel
will be returned many times over. “And
everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or
children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will
inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 19:29)
And even more important, if we’re willing to
take a public stand for Him, no matter what the risk, He promises to take a
stand for us in the presence of the Father!
“Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before
my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns
me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew
10:32-33)
There may be risks involved in being a public
follower of Jesus, but He’ll see that the benefits always outweigh the risks!
His, by Grace,
Steve
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