Word@Work 206 - Mark 15:42-43
Published: Wed, 09/10/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 15:42-43 It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, 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. (NIV)
It had been a long Friday. The agonising procession to Calvary, terminated in torturous nails hammered though Jesus' flesh - and all the insults that added to the injury of crucifixion. Worst of all was the unique separation of the Godhead, marked by darkness as our sins were punished in Christ's body. The triumphant cry, "it is finished!" signalled the end and His body hung with no more breath. But, as the afternoon pushed on into evening, the light came back to normal and, with the Sabbath only hours away, Jewish law demanded a burial.
Joseph was sat on the council that condemned Jesus. He had disagreed but said nothing to reverse the sentence; and his conscience would not rest. He had either been watching the execution or ordered an underling to tell him when Jesus died. He had also been watching for the Messiah to come. It was that dreadful feeling knowing he was wrong and it was too late to make any difference. This was the last opportunity to honour the Man, even though He was dead. The minutes were ticking by and soon the Sabbath laws would prevent him handling a corpse. So he went to Pilate with speed, energy and urgency to ask permission to bury Jesus. It was risky, he was not a family member and this open reverence towards the criminal might wreck his social and religious future.
How many times have we felt ashamed of failing to identify ourselves with Jesus? And the more secret we make our faith; the more difficult it is to be open. We know we have let Jesus down. Although you may feel that it is too late to honour Jesus in your family or at work, it is not! The time which makes a man or woman is when they stop covering the truth. Asking the boss for permission to have a Bible Study group in an office room, or offering to pray for a colleague in the Name of Jesus will certainly let the cat out of the bag. But it will also be the response that the Lord has been seeking all during your 'quiet phase'. Don't forget, Father God will honour you even if you think nobody else will (cf Matthew 10:32,33).
Prayer: Dear Lord, Please forgive my reticence to stand up for You. But please help me to do so, for your sake, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
It had been a long Friday. The agonising procession to Calvary, terminated in torturous nails hammered though Jesus' flesh - and all the insults that added to the injury of crucifixion. Worst of all was the unique separation of the Godhead, marked by darkness as our sins were punished in Christ's body. The triumphant cry, "it is finished!" signalled the end and His body hung with no more breath. But, as the afternoon pushed on into evening, the light came back to normal and, with the Sabbath only hours away, Jewish law demanded a burial.
Joseph was sat on the council that condemned Jesus. He had disagreed but said nothing to reverse the sentence; and his conscience would not rest. He had either been watching the execution or ordered an underling to tell him when Jesus died. He had also been watching for the Messiah to come. It was that dreadful feeling knowing he was wrong and it was too late to make any difference. This was the last opportunity to honour the Man, even though He was dead. The minutes were ticking by and soon the Sabbath laws would prevent him handling a corpse. So he went to Pilate with speed, energy and urgency to ask permission to bury Jesus. It was risky, he was not a family member and this open reverence towards the criminal might wreck his social and religious future.
How many times have we felt ashamed of failing to identify ourselves with Jesus? And the more secret we make our faith; the more difficult it is to be open. We know we have let Jesus down. Although you may feel that it is too late to honour Jesus in your family or at work, it is not! The time which makes a man or woman is when they stop covering the truth. Asking the boss for permission to have a Bible Study group in an office room, or offering to pray for a colleague in the Name of Jesus will certainly let the cat out of the bag. But it will also be the response that the Lord has been seeking all during your 'quiet phase'. Don't forget, Father God will honour you even if you think nobody else will (cf Matthew 10:32,33).
Prayer: Dear Lord, Please forgive my reticence to stand up for You. But please help me to do so, for your sake, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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