Luke 23:50-56
In a world of fear, hate, greed, and self-rule, it will be a
tough place for a righteous man in the time of Jesus or today. In the gospel according to Luke, we find a
righteous man named Joseph from the town of Arimathea. This is Dr. Luke’s account: “Now there was a
man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the
council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was
looking for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body
of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in
a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid.” (Luke 23:50-53 ESV) Often, as one who follows Jesus finds out,
you are like a person who finds themself on a 12-lane highway all going one
direction and you the opposite direction into a culture full fear, hate, greed,
and self-rule. It will require you, as
it did for Joseph of Arimathea, to keep your eyes fixed on God’s word, and fear
not for He is with you.
In the gospel according to Mark we are given more insights
into that day; “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)
It takes courage to walk upright in a world
that hates absolutes, but they hated Jesus and I am absolutely sure if you
follow Him they will hate you also. If
you try to keep one foot in the world and be a friend of the world but say you
are a Christian, they have total contempt for you, and you will have no
authority and no power to live in victory in the middle of a people without
hope. Not sure what took place with
Joseph, he may have been removed from His standing in the council, but that’s
no big deal, in heaven he is being honored.
What a choice, standing for righteousness and being kicked out of the world’s
favor; it is exchanging the temporary for the eternal, or as one has said; “Give
what you cannot keep to gain what you can not lose.” (John Elliott)
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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