Daily Devotional

I did not want to go. I really did not want to say what was in my heart. But it had to be done. It was the day and the hour. So I went. I had a word with the older, respected man in the church. He was successful. He had even talked about giving millions to the church. As a young pastor, the only leverage I had was God’s word and the movement of His Spirit.

So I took courage. I went and we began a conversation. This was not the first time I had to be bold enough to have a confrontation with someone in the church which I was pastoring. This “confrontation” though was really more of a word of warning to Him, from the Lord through me.

He had had encounters with a neighbor farmer. It had come to threats. It was on the verge of violence. So I eventually directed the conversation to this standoff he had with his neighbor. I warned him that if he did not settle it in a gracious way as a believer, that it was going to cost him his life!

He did not listen. Four months later he had a fall. He lingered for some weeks, and then passed away. Fortunately, I had a follow-up conversation with him at his bed side, and he was contrite and repentant. But it was too late to preserve his earthly life.

Joseph of Arimathea was a relatively ordinary man. He was a respected member of the synagogue council, so he had some stature. But he was also a fearful man. He had become a believer in Christ, but had kept it a secret. And then one day the Lord put it in his heart to take a bold step.

And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation,
that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea,
a respected member of the council,
who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God,
took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died.
And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead.
And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead,
he granted the corpse to Joseph.
And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down,
wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb
that had been cut out of the rock.
And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.
Mark 15:42–46, ESV

Joseph knew what he had to do. But the clock kept winding down. He considered the risks. Maybe he was wrong about this task. Maybe he would be misunderstood, or even fail. Maybe he would be rejected by all in the synagogue and the city, and lose his place. Maybe Pilate, who had killed Jesus would imprison him, betray him to the Jews or even have him killed!

But the urging still gnawed at him. As he paced and pondered, he suddenly stopped. He closed his eyes and made a decision. He gathered up his courage and he went to Pilate. He asked for Jesus’ body. He had to wait while Pilate inquired of the centurion whether Jesus was already dead. Maybe Pilate was also planning something unpleasant for Joseph!

But Joseph had success. He was granted Jesus’ body. With the help of Nicodemus (John 19:39) he took the body to a new tomb carved out of rock. They placed it inside and rolled the stone over the front.

Joseph did not know about the resurrection to come. He did not know that he was fulfilling Scripture (Isaiah 53:9). He only knew that he had to overcome his disinclination to go do this task that God’s Spirit was directing in his heart. And he did so. He took three simple steps, much as we might be called to do. 1.) He took courage. 2.) He went to Pilate. 3.) He asked for the body.

We may not be brave or particularly prominent, but such are the people God usually uses. Roadblocks may be thrown up against us, but we will know when we must go. When we do, we might just lead a sinner to eternal life, or turn a believer back from his sin (James 5:19–20, Jude 1:22–23). Maybe it is just a good deed, or a word of encouragement. But lives are changed, God is blessed and we are fruitful when we go.

Take courage. Go. And act as directed.

Read: Esther 4:15–17, 7:1–6
Sing: I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go, by Mary Brown

"English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers."