Text: Matthew 27:57-61
Mark 15:42-47
Luke 23:50-56
John 19:38-42
Who was Joseph of Arimathea?
Matthew 27:56
John 19:38
Mark 15:43
· He could be described as a rich man.
· A member of the Sanhedrin
· A righteous man looking for the kingdom of God
· A secret disciple of Jesus
· He did not take part in the resolution of the Sanhedrin to put Jesus to death.
· After the resurrection, he secured permission from Pilate to remove the body of Jesus from the cross and lay it in his own tomb.
· He was a Christian who was a coward who had never confessed Christ publicly.
· He was a man (on scene) who watched Jesus die.
Can you imagine the quiet he must have felt? Picture the scene. He reasoned to himself.
· I did not vote for his death.
· If I had spoken for Jesus, they would have killed me.
· My name would be in disgrace.
· I could have lost my riches.
The day went on and then Jesus died. Joseph of Arimathea came to his senses, and he came to Pilate and begged for the body of Jesus. This was his public profession— right before the Jews, the Sanhedrin, the Gentiles as well. He went right to Pilate.
Note that the great multitude had not all departed. Joseph joined, John, the beloved, Mary, the grief-stricken mother, Mary Magdelene, the other Mary, and Nicodemus.
And so, we picture Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus— but secretly in fear of the Jews.
Thought: How many people— how many Christians are pictured?
Oh, some have trusted Jesus, but have never claimed it publicly. Have you seen the cross? That is what it took to get Joseph of Arimathea off the fence.
In a restaurant you never bow your head to pray because of onlookers. Do you need to see the cross? Maybe you are never seen with your Bible, because you are afraid of the crowd. Do you need to see the cross? Maybe you never give your personal testimony publicly, because you afraid of the crowd. Do you need to see the cross?
Have you seen the cross? That is what it took to get Joseph of Arimathea to quit straddling the fence.
On this Sunday before Easter, please assemble your family to pray.
In times like these, we need the Savior. We need an anchor.
