04-08-23

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
April 8, 2023
Guest Writers: James Seymour, CCCC Elder
Scripture: John 19:38-42
Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. 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.

When reading this story about the entombment of Jesus after the crucifixion, I immediately noticed the descriptions of the two followers of Jesus who buried him. One, Joseph of Arimathea, was a secret disciple of Jesus as he feared persecution. The other, Nicodemus, had visited Jesus at night, meaning not openly for all to see. Contrast these two faithful men with the crowds who thronged the entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Neither one probably would have been there. But no one from those crowds of daylight followers came to help Jesus in his darkest hour, when he needed to be entombed in order to fulfill his resurrection from the dead.

Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus did not shrink from the service to Jesus. They stood by him after his death, when the other disciples had fled, and even Peter denied him three times.

Will we serve Jesus like them? It is easy to be part of the crowd and wave palms, cheering when it is daylight, and all is safe. But will we stand by Jesus when things get uncomfortable? When must we do the hard work of preparing a body for burial? Even when doing this work violated the Jewish laws about the Sabbath? When no one can see what we are doing, but we risk all for the unconditional love of Christ? To be fully Disciples of Christ, as genuine Christ-followers, we should be willing to undertake such actions. As Jesus himself did.

Oh merciful God, show us the way to become full disciples of your Son. Guide us in becoming the followers you have called us to be for all people. Amen.