Good Morning Friends,
“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
nearby, they laid Jesus there.” (John 19:38-42)
Joseph and Nicodemus made good partners. They
were both hesitant to go public with their interest in Jesus.
Some time earlier, Nicodemus wanted to talk
with Jesus, but didn’t want his friends and associates to know it, so he went
at night to see Him. Joseph was a disciple, but only secretly. There was fear
in him. He was a member of the Sanhedrin (Mark 15:43) and wondered what the
rest of them would say and do if they knew he was a disciple of Jesus.
But there was something about Jesus’ death
that made these two hesitant followers willing to take a risk. They risked
being found out. They risked others questioning what they were doing.
At Jesus’ death, they were willing to do what
they were not willing to do in Jesus’ life. It must have pleased Jesus to know
they were caring for His body. It pleased Him to know they were willing to take
a stand for Him, even though it took His death to make them do it.
There are many people who still want to be
secret followers of Jesus. There is fear in them. Fear of what friends and
associates would say and do if they knew they followed Him. We’ve seen what
they do to outsiders, to those who are different, those who don't quite fit in.
They can be brutal. We don’t want to face that kind of ridicule, too.
But there is something about Jesus’ death
that should make those hesitant followers be willing to take a risk. Look
closely at Him, hanging on the cross. Remember how much He was willing to do
for us. See the extent of His love.
If He will do that for us, can’t we go public
for Him? When they saw it, Joseph and Nicodemus did!
His, by Grace,
Steve
No comments:
Post a Comment