I enjoy true life stories of people who display bravery. It inspires me to raise up my dedication of a worthy cause and perform at a higher level. This most unusual pair did something way beyond what any men would normally do in their culture.
One is barely mentioned in the Bible and the other is mentioned in a prior event of which many would have called him timid and without bravery (John 3:1-15). They were perhaps two of the most wealthiest men of their time and yet they performed an act only a lowly servant would do. If they were found out by their peers, while doing their bold and loving deed, they could have lost their fortunes and perhaps even their lives.
Who are they? Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus. Their bold deed was to secretly take the dead body of the Lord Jesus Christ, who died as a lowly criminal being hanged on a tree, and give him a proper burial only reserved for the rich. Here are 3 of the 4 records of their deed. (The other record is Mark 15:43-46).
Matthew 27:57-60:
When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:
He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.John 19:38-42:
And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.
There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.Luke 23:50-53:
And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
(The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
This was done in secret because if the Pharisees knew of this they would have ostracized Nicodemus and Joseph from the counsel of the Sanhedrin (the ruling body of the Jews), and perhaps even have them stoned to death.
Both of these men were so obviously touched in their hearts by the son of God that they risked everything just to give him a proper burial. As they offered their lives for the dead Jesus Christ, may we give our lives to serve the living Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.
Adapted from a teaching by Chris Giarratano
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