SCRIPTURE: Mark 15:42-47
Joseph was a sincere Jew, a member of the religious leadership that crucified Jesus.
Along with Nicodemus (John 19:38-39), another religious leader who had secretly come to Jesus (John 3), he went to give Jesus a proper burial… in his own family burial cave.
This is a gutsy move, considering how vehemently the Jewish leaders hated and resisted Jesus.
He did not deserve a proper burial, He was a heretic, a blasphemer, accursed by God.
But these two men were so impacted by Jesus that they finally went public with their admiration of Jesus.
The religious leaders knew, because they put a guard over the tomb to keep the disciples from taking the body.
We do wonder how things worked out for Joseph and Nicodemus, we never hear of them again.
Did they come to believe that Jesus was God’s messiah, and that the kingdom of God had begin in Him?
Were they kicked out of the Jewish ruling Council, were they shunned by their neighbours, or by their family?
What did they lose by going public for Jesus… or a better question, what did they gain?
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. (Matthew 19:29)
What have I lost by being a follower of Jesus… what have I gained?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, I did not suffer for choosing to follow You. But many people do. I pray especially for them, that You would support and strengthen them, and remind them deep within of how much they have gain in You!
Observation/Application
Showing your colour.
Joseph, a member of the council, went against the flow. His eyes were opened I believe. And Pilate heard the request and stunned gave in. God moves in mysterious ways His purposes to fulfill. As the gospels say, Nicodemus was also there and together they fulfilled the law. Yet for Pilate to release the body – unheard of.
The friends of Christ had not understood what it was all about. They followed the religious laws of that time but did not realize what would happen in three days time. And the women watched from afar.
God at work among His people.
God uses His people., His servants to fulfill His Word. He empowers His servants.
They stood up for Jesus.
God enabled.
Prayer
Help me daily Lord to stand up for You.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus! ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss:
From vict’ry unto vict’ry, His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus! The trumpet call obey:
Forth to the mighty conflict, in this His glorious day;
Ye that are men now serve Him against unnumbered foes;
Let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus! Stand in His strength alone,
The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own;
Put on the gospel armor, and watching unto prayer,
Where calls the voice of duty, be never wanting there.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus! the strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle, the next the victor’s song;
To him that overcometh a crown of life shall be;
He with the King of glory shall reign eternally.