Choosing to honor Jesus will overcome our greatest fears. After Jesus was crucified, great fear spread among the disciples,” They were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders” (John 20:19). On their minds was the thought, “Are we next?”
While the disciples were huddled in fear, two unlikely men came forward to ask for the body of Jesus to prepare Him for burial. One man was Joseph of Arimathea who offered his unused tomb to bury Jesus. He was a wealthy man of influence who held a position on the Jewish council. The other man was Nicodemus, a Pharisee.
Scripture tells us Joseph’s request came with a risk when he approached Pilate and asked for the Lord’s body. The exposure of that request would forever change the life of Joseph.
“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. With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes” (John 19: 38-39).
Joseph was allowed to take the Lord down from the Cross. He was removing the Lamb of God, the most holy sacrifice at the time when Israel was celebrating the Passover. We can see that parallel now from our point of history, but then, it was not so obvious when fear was rampant among those following the Lord. The desire to honor Jesus was greater in the hearts of Joseph and Nicodemus than the fear of an exposure of their faith.
After the Day of Pentecost, a radical transformation took place in the Church that overcame their fear. Now empowered by the indwelling Spirit, the disciples came out in full disclosure of their faith in Jesus no matter where they traveled to represent Him and His Kingdom. That fearlessness is profound evidence of being filled with the Spirit.
Today, as we remember the day in history between the Lord’s crucifixion and His resurrection, I am asking, “Where are we honoring the Lord?” As it was with Joseph and Nicodemus, the answer to that question will change everything in our lives because it will reveal to the world we are no longer living as secret disciples. To follow that path of exposure and choose to do what needs to be done to honor the name of Jesus is what will define us as His followers.
Powerful reflection. Thinking of how well Jesus died for my sins, how He honored and loved the Father, and how well He loved and honored me with His death… Can I honor His name and sacrifice more intentionally today and the next? Can I focus on Him as He focused on me during His trial and execution? Spirit, help me focus more on the eternal, not the temporal today and then again tomorrow. Jesus help me glorify you by becoming less and focusing on loving others more, focusing on protecting myself less and loving you more this day and the next… and the next…