John 19:38-42
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
The Burial of Jesus
38 Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away. 39 With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. 40 Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth. 41 The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before. 42 And so, because it was the day of preparation for the Jewish Passover and since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.
When Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus showed up on Calvary hill to claim the body of Jesus after He was crucified, their secret was out. Pilate knew. The soldiers who performed the crucifixion knew. The other Jewish leaders knew. Anyone of the crowd who still remained around the Cross saw these two, previously secret disciples, take away the lifeless body of Jesus. They no longer cared who knew they were believers.
Do we hide our faith? In this secular, lost world, do we think it’s wise to maintain Christian anonymity? Do we try to keep peace at home, at work, at play by being secret disciples? The day came when Joseph and Nicodemus didn’t care who knew. So it will be with us. Jesus is coming back. When that happens, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Don’t wait. Show your faith today and every day.
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