Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text for this evening is the Scripture Lesson just read, from Matthew 27. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- The apostle Paul wrote to the congregation in Corinth: “Not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.” Almost certainly he could have added: “not many of you were rich.”
- So also the apostle James wrote: “For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. . . . Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.”
- So it is rather surprising that a “rich man” would have anything to do with Jesus, let alone be “a disciple of Jesus.” And it is quite out of character for a rich man to risk his position and perhaps even his wealth for the sake of honoring an executed criminal who was already dead.
- But this is precisely what happened – according to our text, and also all of the other Gospel writers. And this also is somewhat rare, for all four Gospels to mention someone by name and describe him. Each Gospel author adds something to the description of this rich man, Joseph of Arimathea!
- And this is helpful to us, very comforting and strengthening, for we also are among the “rich” of this world today. So, we can learn from this Joseph how to be a disciple of Jesus even with wealth and privilege. And we can also perhaps learn some things not to do as wealthy disciples of Jesus. First, we note that:
I. Joseph Was A Secret Disciple And Friend Of Jesus, But He Feared Losing His Place And Position Within The Community
Text: “A rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus.”
John 19:38 “After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was 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 away his body.”
John 12:42 “Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.”
Statement: You remember what Jesus said: “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus said to them again, Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” And yet here is Joseph, a rich man and a disciple – by the grace of God, and by God’s miraculous and powerful working! For Jesus also asserted: “With God nothing is impossible.”
Application: Still, until the death of Jesus, Joseph could not “come out” as being a believer, a follower of Jesus, His disciple. We must take cognizance of our own temptations to “be ashamed of Jesus” in the midst of this adulterous and sinful generation – and also of the consequence of this: “of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father.” So let us learn from Joseph to be bold in our discipleship, and let others know that we are His disciples – even though this evil and adulterous generation looks at Jesus as being evil, and Christianity as being evil. This was just how it was at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion!
Transition: But Joseph was able to take stock of how things were, and of what needed to be done. And so:
II. Joseph Was Emboldened By What He Witnessed At The Cross
A. He Was Strengthened To Embrace Jesus By Faith
Text: “Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus . . . went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him.”
B. Disgusted By The Unbelief And Rejection Of God’s Son, And God’s Gracious Gift Of Redemption, Joseph Testified To His Faith By Providing Jesus With A Proper Burial
Text: “Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.”
John 19:39,40 “Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.”
Statement: Nicodemus, who joined Joseph in this kindly act of honoring Jesus with proper burial, was also a secret disciple of Jesus. Nonetheless, he had attempted to defend Jesus within the Sanhedrin, but was belittled and silenced. He too had to witness this horrific miscarriage of justice. But he was also emboldened along with Joseph to do what was right, and to take their place alongside Jesus, in support of Him. How the resurrection must have thrilled these two disciples as well!
Application: We too recognize that it is dangerous to stand up for Jesus, to take sides with Him. But like Joseph, we can be emboldened by what we know – from God’s Word, about Jesus, His love, His gift of salvation, and the eternal life and glory that are ours through faith in Him. And in His gracious love, we too can do what is right and decent, especially in view of His resurrection, His ascension, and His coming return in glory!
And while our service cannot be directly to Jesus, He assures us: “Inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these my brothers, you have done it unto Me.” So, we have a myriad of opportunities to join Joseph and Nicodemus in publicly joining Jesus and serving Him!
Conclusion: It is also surprising today, that there are rich people who are followers and disciples of Jesus! Let us take full consideration of the danger that we are in because of our wealth, and give deep and humble thanksgiving to God that He has done the impossible for us, that He has brought us to faith, new life, and salvation!
Let us waste no time in being “secret disciples,” out of fear that we will somehow “lose” something valuable! Regardless of what wealth, privilege, status, or prerogative we might lose by publicly following Jesus and serving Him, it will all be worth it in the end!
Because we are wealthy and have prerogatives, we can pretty much do anything that we want to do. We can wander from Jesus, becoming preoccupied with the things money can buy, and the places we can go with money. But graciously God has called us away from this, and made us His own dear children and disciples. The best way to thank Him, and the best way to remain safe in our discipleship, is to publicly serve Him. And the best way to publicly serve Him is within His church, in the local congregation of our fellow believers.
Thanks and praise be to God, that with Him everything is possible! May we remain perceptive about the evils of our time, and never be ashamed to take the side of Jesus, regardless of the cost! In the end He will make good whatever we have lost! Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.