Joseph of Arimathea Sometimes we carve out a portion of our lives and choose to live it differently than the rest. What we fail to realize is half-hearted obedience is really disobedience. God does not mean for us to go through life wearing a mask for certain people or in certain settings. He calls us to live honestly. After Jesus’s death, Joseph of Arimathea goes public with his faith. He is remembered for stepping out in faith to claim the body of Jesus, but what might he have missed out on because he delayed? Joseph was a secret disciple. As one of Israel’s wealthy religious elite, it was dangerous for Joseph to associate with Jesus. It was not until Jesus’s crucifixion that Joseph was willing to risk a public association. Fear and hesitation caused Joseph to miss out on three years of miracles and life change. What are you missing out on because of an unwillingness to go public for Jesus? Imagine looking back at your life and realizing that you missed countless opportunities to be a part of God’s miracles on earth. This is Joseph of Arimathea’s story. He knew Jesus, but missed being a part of many of the miracles Jesus did during His ministry. 1) Are you the same person at work or home on Monday as your are at church on Sunday? What’s stopping you? 2) What changes do you need to make to live consistently for Jesus in all areas of your life? 3) Who can support and encourage you as you commit to living for Jesus everywhere, all the time? Matthew 27:57-60 NKJV Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. John 19:38 NKJV 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.
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 11:38:04 +0000
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