Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders.
Imagine being afraid to admit that you believe in Jesus.
Oh, wait…
A lot of us still are.
Why is that?
Joseph of Arimathea was afraid of the Jewish leaders. They did bad things to people who disagreed with them. Public humiliation was the least of worries for someone who went up against them. They had the power to throw people out of the synagog. People who confessed that Jesus was Lord were quickly tossed out on their ear. In Jesus’ case, they put him to death. The leaders of the Jews were not nice people.
But things are better today. Right?
Non-believers today are just as threatened by Jesus as the Jewish leaders were two thousand years ago. People who believe are mocked and ridiculed. People who believe are sometimes shut out of jobs and work opportunities. People who believe are even thrown in prison if they dare to voice their opinion. The altar where babies are sacrificed to the god of convenience and sexual freedom comes to mind.
Application: It is easy to relate to Joseph of Arimathea because we all face the same reaction from those who are hostile to the gospel of Jesus. Like Joseph, we are constantly confronted with the choice of acknowledging our Lord in public. True freedom is not being a slave to fear.
Food for Thought: What did Jesus teach his disciples to do in hostile situations?
Please click “Continue Reading” for comments.
I am reminded of the disciples facing persecution in the book of Acts. They lovingly and boldly shared the gospel no matter the repercussions. They even said that they would obey God rather than man when they were told to stop speaking in Jesus’ name. They prayed for boldness. They did not pray for safety! I think it is fine to pray for safety, but the example of these early believers and the persecuted church today puts me to shame. This Sunday is the International Day of prayer for the persecuted church. It would be interesting to get their perspective on this question.