Nicodemus, a prominent religious teacher, came to ask Jesus questions under the cover of darkness, presumably so that his religious colleagues would not know. (John 3)
Joseph of Arimathea, we're told in John 19, was a "secret" follower of Jesus. Why? Because he was "afraid of the religious leaders"... which was the group he was part of. Like Nicodemus, he too was afraid of what his colleagues would think.
But then Good Friday comes. The day that a condemned Jesus dies on a cross as a prisoner, condemned by the accusations of those same colleagues they were afraid of. THIS would have been the day for both Nicodemus and Joseph to lay low, stay mum, pretend they'd never known Jesus. THIS would have been the day to say "well, I guess we were wrong about who He was" and go back to the life of power and prestige that was theirs. Instead, this is the day they choose to take a stand.
It's an odd day to let the world know that you are a follower of Jesus. It's a day when the "cause" would seem to be lost, when the movement would seem to be done. It's a day when those closest to Jesus are on the run and hiding.
But Nicodemus and Joseph, in what would have been a matter of public record, go to the Roman Governor Pilate - the governor who gave the orders for Jesus' crucifixion - and ask for His body so they can prepare and bury it. They are given permission, and they touch the dead body of Jesus, making them unclean, and therefore making it so that they could not participate in the rest of the Passover feast (another public declaration). They spend a huge sum on a large amount of spices to embalm the body - the amount that you would use to embalm a king. They bury Jesus.
In my mind, it is one of the most courageous and faith-filled actions in the Bible. They declare their faith when there seems to be no hope. They take a stand in the darkness. They step forward when the other Christians are on the run. They put themselves in grave danger.
My contemplations on the bravery of Nicodems and Joseph are mixed today with my thoughts of the 147 young Christians of Kenya who were gunned down at a prayer meeting and in dorm rooms. Why? Because they identified themselves as followers of Jesus. They did it in a dangerous place. Some did it in the midst of darkness (there is a report that before being shot, people were asked if they were Christians).
May we have the courage of Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea and 147 young Kenyans. May we take stands when there seems to be darkness and little hope. May we act courageously, bravely, in the midst of chaos.
The good news? There is one thing that we know that Nicodemus and Joseph did not know. Sunday is coming. Jesus will rise. And in the last day, not only will Jesus be resurrected, but His followers will be. Including those brave 147 Kenyans. Lord, have mercy.
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