Note: The devotion below is drawn from several
sections of last Sunday’s sermon on Luke 23:63-71.
And, behold, there
was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just (Luke 23:50).
All
the Gospel writers agree that the man responsible for taking charge of the
remains of Jesus after his crucifixion was Joseph of Arimathaea. He was part of the Jewish counsel, the elite
group of seventy men who formed the Jewish Sanhedrin and who were given limited
governing authority by the Romans. That
was his external office. Luke proceeds,
however, to give us an internal profile of this man as well. He describes his character: “and he was a good man, and a just
[man].” The word “good [agathos]” implies that he was a sound
and morally upright man. The word “just
[dikaios]” implies that he was
righteous, fair, and honest. Luke
describes Joseph in the same way that the centurion described Jesus (v.
47). There was a Christ-like quality to
this man.
Earlier
in Luke’s account of Jesus’ trial it had seemed as though the whole counsel had
been unanimous in condemning Jesus (see 22:70-71; 23:1-2). They seemed to have spoken with one
voice. But now we learn that the verdict
had not been unanimous. Maybe Joseph had
not been present or maybe he had lain low, or his voice had been drowned
out. Still, Luke records: “The same had not consented to the counsel
and deed of them” (v. 51a).
Luke
adds two more important notes in v. 51b:
First,
that Joseph was from the Jewish town of Arimathaea. Joseph was a popular name, so men were often
identified by the places from which they came (cf. Judas Iscariot or Simon of
Cyrene). We might note the providence
that at his birth the infant body of Jesus was cared for and protected by
Joseph of Nazareth and, at his death, by Joseph of Arimathea. Both were named for the Biblical Joseph who
said to his brothers: What you meant for
evil, God meant for good (Gen 50:20).
Second,
Luke says that he “also himself waited for the kingdom of God.” This is the kingdom that Jesus had announced
was present in his life and ministry.
The kingdom he called men to enter into.
The kingdom of which he taught his disciples to pray: “Thy kingdom come” (Matt 6:10). But also, the kingdom that Jesus taught would
not fully come until the end of the age when the Son of Man came in the clouds
in glory to judge the nations (Luke 21:27) and to separate the wheat from the
tares (cf. Matt 13:37-43).
Matthew
says that this Joseph was “rich man” and that he “also himself was Jesus’
disciple” (Matt 27:57). John 18:38,
likewise, says outright that Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, then adds, “but
secretly for fear of the Jews.” He
reminds me of some Christians I have heard about especially in some Muslims
counties who become believers but they have to do so secretly, for fear of the
repercussions which would take place if their faith was found out. Perhaps Joseph’s conscience had been torn
over whether he should publically identify with Jesus or not.
Knowing
this makes what Luke says he did not all the more amazing and encouraging: “This man went unto Pilate, and begged the
body of Jesus” (v. 52). That took an act
of courage on his part. It put him at
risk before Pilate and the Jewish council.
What if there had been an attempt to round up the followers of Jesus and
send them to the cross as well? Despite
the risk, Joseph went to Pilate and was granted permission to bury the body of
our Lord.
Here
is the question we need to ask: Can it be
said of us, as it was by Luke of Joseph, that we are a good and just men? Like
Joseph have we been content to lay low, to stand at the back, to blend in? Have we shown a tendency not to want to stand
forward and be publically identified with Christ? Are we, like Joseph, secret disciples?
Notice
that there were some like Peter who boldly promised to follow Christ, but when
the rubber met the road, they denied and deserted him. Thankfully, Peter was, however, finally
restored. On the other hand, here is
Joseph who laid low in his faith during Jesus’ life but then courageously
stepped forward in his death. In his
commentary on this passage Norval Geldenhuys observed:
In the hour of crisis it is
often the Peters who have sworn loyalty to Jesus with big gestures and fullness
of self-confidence, that disappoint, and it is the secret and quiet followers
of the Master (like Joseph, Nicodemus, and the women) that do not hesitate to
serve Him in love—whatever the cost (Luke,
pp. 619-620).
Maybe
you are like Joseph. You have not been
as vocal, as public in your faith, but you are ready to come into the light
when he calls upon you. Is he calling
you for such a time as this?
Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle
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