Does the thought of testifying for Christ make you uncomfortable? Have you ever found an excuse not to do His work because you feared the reaction from others? If so, you’re not alone. The Good News is God loves to sustain you when you have a crisis in faith. It is God who provides the courage and conviction you need in times of stress.
Joseph of Arimathea was a man who struggled with his faith in Christ. He was a follower of Christ, but in secret – an admirer incognito. However, he was loath to admit his convictions for fear of those around him. He was afraid that by admitting his love for Christ he would be put out of the synagogue, a disgrace that brought fear to his heart. Consequently, he worshipped Christ timidly in private and from afar.
Joseph’s plan provided protective cover while Jesus was alive. He could perform his secret worship and stay hidden from those who might cause him harm. This security cloak disappeared when Jesus was crucified. Jesus’ death brought about a crisis in his faith, and God lifted Joseph up to do the work others were unwilling to do.
Specifically, there existed the ugly matter of the body of Christ – what would be done with it? Jesus’ mother and all His close relations had neither the spirit nor the interest to deal with the situation. Those friends closest to Jesus, His disciples, had scattered in fear and were actively hiding from both Roman and Jewish authorities. They feared being considered guilty by association and suffer the same fate as our LORD. Thus, those who might usually tend to the body were now unavailable. Moreover, the clock was ticking – Jewish custom required the body to be buried within 24 hours of death.
Ironically, the authorities were not concerned. To them, Jesus was just one of three bodies they had dealt with that day. On the seemingly endless conveyor belt of crucifixion victims, Jesus Christ was little more than a foot note. If no one had appeared to claim the body, the Jews or the Romans would have taken care of it, but in their own way. Jesus would have been buried with the thieves, as was their custom.
God, however, harbored great concerns regarding His Son’s burial. He emboldened Joseph of Arimathea to step in where others feared to tread. God’s reputation was riding on the matter of Jesus’ burial. Scripture needed to be fulfilled, and having Jesus buried in a common grave was not part of God’s plan. Jesus needed a new, unused tomb. Joseph of Arimathea was the man God raised to provide it during this time of great crisis.
Joseph’s faith and courage were growing stronger quickly. He was able to realize that all the Jews could do was censure and ridicule him. He had found salvation through Christ, so he had nothing to fear. His grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9).
God, however, was not yet done giving. God also infused Joseph with the courage he needed to approach Pontius Pilate. The fate of Jesus body appeared to lay at the mercy of a heathen judge, a powerful ruler who had just ordered the execution of the Son of God. Now Joseph needed to trust God to give him the courage to enter Pilate’s court and beg for the body of his Savior. Joseph was able to go boldly to Pilate and to humbly request the body of our LORD.
When God has work to do, it is normal for Him to find willing spirits to fulfill His desires. Joseph had been a fearful man prior to Jesus’ death on the Cross. During this time of crisis, God gave Joseph the courage and the strength he needed to do God’s will. This should be an encouragement to all. God is faithful, and will provide the strength you need to do His work in crisis or in calm.
In His love and service,
Jeff Myers
A servant of Jesus Christ
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