Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. -John 19:38-42*
Taking a Stand
When I read the above scripture, my thoughts went immediately to the two men. I saw Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus as two men who no longer cared for others’ opinions. They had gone boldly before Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. They had come out in the open, saying that Jesus was important to them.
In Mark 8 I am reminded that if I am ashamed of Jesus then there will be a time when He will be ashamed of me. It also tells me that having everything in the world is nothing compared to having my very self belong to Jesus.
At some point, each of us will have to make a stand. It may mean that you have to wear pink tennis shoes and tell children how important they are to God and that they can change the world for Jesus. It may mean that you have to sit with a dying friend and ask them to save you a seat you up front in heaven’s auditorium. It may mean that people at work or school will think there is something different about you. I had to ask myself if I was willing to make that stand. It is the best thing I ever did!!
Steve Hathorn is most famous for having served as a Kindergarten Sunday School teacher for many years and now teaches 1st - 4th grade. He also teaches Sidewalk Bible School.
What makes God happy? "He likes us to be good and not be selfish to our Mom, Dad, sister, brother and everyone else." -Parker Hughes, 1st grade
*Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
