Title: Switching Places/ Topic: Courage

Today's Reading: Job 26; Job 27; Mark 15; Mark 16

Scripture: Mark 15:43
43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body.

Observation: It's an interesting contrast between the disciples, who have been openly following Jesus for three and a half years, and Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the ruling elders who have been plotting against Jesus for years, but who has secretly been his disciple too. (See the verse below)

John 19:38-- Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away.

When Jesus was arrested and tried, all those who had openly been his disciples fled and deserted him. But Joseph, who had been afraid to admit he was a follower of Jesus because his peers were all antagonistic toward the Lord, finally overcomes all his fears and boldly goes to Pilate and asks for Jesus' body so he can give him a proper burial. He risks all his relationships to express his love for Jesus at this time. He couldn't do it while Jesus was alive, but it's as if the horror of his death awakens in him a courage to want to do the right thing and give honor to the dead man he followed by making sure he suffered no more humiliation. He would make sure that the body of his Lord was properly enbalmed and laid to rest with dignity.

Application: Sometimes we judge people unfairly. I would have labeled Joseph a coward for not openly taking a stand for Jesus while he was alive. But he risked everything to stand up for him at a time when those who had openly followed him were now all gone----hiding and afraid. Pressure reveals much of what is in a person's heart. God can be working things deeply inside of others that we don't see until much later.

Prayer: Father, let us pray for your work to be done in others and keep trusting that even when we don't see it, our prayers will have an effect and bring about the fruit of change that is necessary. And may we never think of ourselves as being above being tempted as the disciples were to “run and hide” when we should stand and fight. Keep us strong and unified together for your glory.
This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.