John 19:36
After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight.
All four Gospel’s mention Joseph of Arimathea but only in reference to Jesus’ burial. Of course, Nicodemus, who had gone in the night to speak with the Lord in John 3, is present too and he brings gifts of great worth and great expense. For both of them, this is a moment wrought with peril. Any supporters Jesus had have now been scattered and a death by crucifixion is a terribly ignominious thing – a great and resounding discredit to Him and His followers. So, to come forth publicly at this time is a tremendous act of faith and love.
This episode is also instructive in a less obvious regard.
Joseph and Nicodemus show great faith in providing for the burial of our Lord. These things that they give up – the myrrh and aloes and the tomb – are certainly not inexpensive by the standards of that day and to give them away to a crucified criminal is unthinkable if one sees only as the world sees. But this is how true faith works. It rises up at those moments when all seem lost and it parts with the world’s goods whenever heaven calls. Joseph and Nicodemus’ example is nearly sublime in that they give to the fallen Christ, the crucified and mocked Christ. They love the dead Christ. How blessed must they have been to have seen enough of the Kingdom of God so as not to lose all hope as Jesus died that day? Today we worship and serve the risen Christ, the One who triumphed over the tomb and walked away from death once and for all. That is our blessed hope. But Nicodemus moves to part with his spices and his possessions on Friday while still in the shadow, still in the dread night of the wickedness that moved to kill Jesus. What a great faith this is to behold!
Also, Joseph is not compelled to put himself at any more risk than he is already in by aiding Jesus. He moves in secret. Yes, indeed, there are times to proclaim one’s faith from the rooftops and to stand one’s faithful ground, but there is no need to seek martyrdom by one’s own will. Thus, Joseph’s actions teach us even today and show how faithful Christians can move quietly in obedience to faith despite tyrants and danger all around. Joseph saw that a need matched his provision and faith told him that this was opportunity. In our own lives it is the same. We have daily opportunities to serve God – most frequently by rejecting the world’s values and sin – but also by giving aid, in whatever manner we might be gifted to provide, in any variety of ways. The hearts that are set aside for God relish the chances even though no one is looking and they do them, like Joseph of Arimathea, without drawing attention to themselves. It might be a private word of support for a Christian fighter you know, who is taking fire from the world. It might be the act of paying a bill for a Christian family that’s going through a crisis. It could be anything done in the name of the Lord, for the Lord, and to the glory of the Lord. This is the heart of Christian service! It’s small acts of private faith that no one may ever know except Christ and another Christian. Real Christian courage is seen when we give up the world’s goods to stand for what looks like a dead cause, even a stupid one. I mean, think about it: who gives up so much wealth for an executed criminal? Who would think to sully their reputation. That these men did so imperiled their professional future in the same way it might today for someone who refuses to follow the world by not calling sin what it is – sin.
Fights will come to the church as the world works to undermine the gospel, but there’s no need to pick those fights. Great acts of faith come only when the eyes of the heroes of God are so firmly fixed on Christ that they can’t see the world’s illusions. For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things anyway. This was the simple truth that Joseph and Nicodemus knew and that motivated these great acts of love at a time of danger and real persecution. Imagine how they rejoiced when they knew the tomb was only used for a short weekend! It’s always that way. Whatever we give to God in the name of Christ, which was always His in the first place, will be given back to us to the glory of God. It’s always to the glory of God, so we have no fear – not of the Jews, the Romans, the mobs, the politics of the day…none of it. Christ is our Rock and Redeemer. It may look dark today. Today might be Friday, my friend. Today the tomb might look like the last word. It might look like the mob has won and all is lost. But Sunday is coming. He rises…He lives…and because He does, so will you.
So, whatever you may be called to suffer today, or to sacrifice, have patience. We know how this ends. He’s coming again to judge the world and to vindicate faith. And when that day comes, and it will assuredly come because He’s not in Joseph’s tomb anymore, every word of faith you’ve ever uttered in the face of persecution, in trial, in despair, in fear – despite it all – when you extolled the glory of Christ to a fallen world, it will all come back to you. Yes, oh yes! He’s coming again so we have no fear of using our resources in His name.
Recent Comments