UNDERCOVER DISCIPLES
JOHN 19:38-40
JOHN 19:38-40 NKJ
38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. 39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. 40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.
OBSERVATION:
There were two men who were stealth disciples. I am sure there were more, but the bible names these two. Typically, when we see someone named in the scriptures, it's for a reason.
Joseph of Arimathea was a wealthy man who had some influence in Jerusalem. He had gone to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. It took courage to go to Pilate and courage to take Jesus' body. Joseph would bury Jesus in a new tomb where the rich were buried. That tomb may have been his own future personal tomb, but he wanted Jesus to have it. Remember, he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly. Why would a wealthy man be afraid of being known as a disciple of the Lord? Fear. Fear of the Jews who were against anyone who believed Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah.
The Jews had the ability to kick you out of the synagogue and wreck your Jewish connections. The power brokers would disown you, and it certainly would not help business. Joseph believed in Jesus but being identified with Him would be too costly, so he kept it on the down-low.
And Joseph had another secret disciple join him in caring for the body of Jesus. Nicodemus, who was a leading Jewish teacher and scholar. He was the one who approached Jesus at night, so no one could accuse him of being a Jesus follower.
Nicodemus brought very expensive embalming materials, and he brought a great amount of them. You don't do that when you don't care.
Both men, Joe and Nic, were willing to get financially involved in caring for Jesus after the cross. I wonder if the word got back to the Jews of what they did. They did not identify with Jesus when He was alive, but they did when He died.
APPLICATION:
There is still pressure today to be an undercover secret disciple of the Lord. The same pressure that kept Joe and Nic in identifying with Jesus has not changed. Fear of being socially cut off is still very real.
But we have an advantage that Joseph and Nicodemus did not have. They finally identified with a crucified, dead Jesus. But we identify with the resurrected Jesus, the strong Son of God. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We may not be embraced by society's elite, but we are backed up by heaven and God's kingdom. Our faith in Him is stronger than our fear.
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus help me be strong for You. You have given Your life for me and no one has ever loved me that much. I am willing to be identified with You.