7 October | EVERYONE
«After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being 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. So he came and took the body of Jesus.» John 19: 38
Do you think it is enough to be Jesus’s friend and admire His teachings, or do we have to be His disciple? Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus are examples of people who wrestled with themselves before publicly declaring that they accepted Jesus. They did not do it while Jesus was alive, but they surrendered to Him after His death.
Joseph of Arimathea was born in a village in Judah ten miles northeast of Lydda. He was a wealthy man and an illustrious member of the Sanhedrin, and had a new tomb in Jerusalem, hewn out of the rock, near Golgotha. Luke states that Joseph looked forward to the Kingdom of God and that he was one of those who opposed it when the Sanhedrin condemned Jesus.
Up to that point, he and Nicodemus, another member of the Sanhedrin, had followed Jesus wholeheartedly, but they were ashamed to declare their faith in public for fear of the religious authorities. Both are the typical example of people who understand the message but who, for reasons known only to them and God, take a long time to make the decision of their life.
In Joseph’s case, when the cruel moments of the crucifixion came, he was no longer afraid to expose himself and asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Once permission was granted by the governor, he wrapped Him in a clean linen cloth and, with the help of Nicodemus, deposited Jesus in the tomb of his property, which no one had used before.
Take Action
Have you already received the seed of God in your soul? Have you accepted Jesus as your personal Savior? If you have, you can declare it publicly. Is this not what your heart is asking of you?