Openly Living As Disciples of Jesus

"Today's Devotion" For March 25, 2005 (Good Friday)

Read: Matthew 27:57-61; Isaiah 53:9-12

OPENLY LIVING AS DISCIPLES OF JESUS

"As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate he asked for Jesus' body and Pilate ordered that it be given to him." (Mt. 27:57-58)

During much of the second quarter of the Twentieth Century, Europe was dominated and intimidated by the Nazi Party of Germany. Adolf Hitler, through cunning, persuasion, charisma, and brutality came out of absolute obscurity to dominate the German political scene. His power became absolute. Millions of Germans blindly followed his charismatic leadership. During the 1930's, his Nazi Party, backed by the German Secret Police, called the Gestapo, waged an internal, genocidal war against the Jewish people. Seeking to conquer and control Europe, Hitler's military forces unleashed a "blitzkrieg" upon Germany's neighbors, bringing most of Europe under Hitler's direct control. In each nation conquered the ongoing genocide against the Jews continued, since Hitler's and his henchmen's plan was to eradicate Jews from the face of the earth. In the midst of this genocide were people who put their lives on the line to save Jews from such a fate. One young girl by the name of Corrie Ten Boom relates the story of how her family put their lives on the line to spirit Jews out of Holland. This eventually cost them their freedom and some of them died. Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian, opposed Hitler's "holocaust," going so far as to help plot Hitler's death. He, too, lost his freedom and his life in an attempt to save the Jews. As we observe Good Friday once again this year, we recognize that it's a day of Death and Salvation, injustice and life.

Our Lord Jesus Christ truly experienced injustice and Death in order to bring about salvation and life for the world. The hatred of the religious leaders of His day led to His being unjustly nailed to the Cross as if He were a common criminal. We're told by Matthew that the all the members of the Sanhedrin who were able to be present at Jesus' "trial" on Maundy Thursday (Passover night) voted that Jesus should be put to death. No one stood up for Him. And when He was sent to Pilate and Herod, neither of them could find any fault in Him. In the end, however, Pilate bowed to the pressure from the people, generated by the Sanhedrin and the high priest, Caiaphas, and sent Jesus to the Cross on Good Friday. His disciples stayed away (except for John), for fear of the Jews. Only Mary, His mother, and the two other Marys of the Gospels, were at the foot of the Cross. Yet, as the Sabbath approached, a rich man, Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus, came to Pilate, quietly claimed Jesus' body from the Cross, and buried Him in his own tomb. Here was a man of wealth, quite likely well known because of his wealth, willingly sticking his neck out for His Lord. His act of love and faithfulness fulfilled the final prophecy concerning Jesus' crucifixion and death, as he buried Jesus in a "rich man's tomb."

How about us? When we look at Joseph's faith and trust in Jesus and his love for his Lord, we see a man of courage, willing to expose himself as a disciple of Jesus Christ, with all its attendant difficulties, for all to see. By being so open he could have lost his life and his wealth. Since we never hear about him again, we don't know that it didn't. What we do know about him, however, is that he was willing to put himself on the line for Jesus. How about you and me? Are we willing to live our lives in such a way that it's obvious to others that we're different? Do we shy away from standing up and being counted as disciples or do we boldly stand out as the redeemed and faithful children of God in Jesus Christ? Redeemed by Christ and freed from the bondage of Sin and Death, we are empowered to live as the true Children of God, forgiven of all our sins and ready to touch the lives of others with dignity and respect. In Christ we have the strength each and every day to put ourselves on the line for Jesus, living and acting in such a way that others see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven (Mt. 5:16). Be assured that our Lord will never forsake us. We have nothing to fear. We are in the very palm of His hand.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You sent Jesus to fulfill Your promise of salvation made to Adam and Eve already in the Garden of Eden. You continued to promise that salvation to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses and the Prophets continued to remind Your people of that promise. You put David on his throne and assured him that his "kingdom would last forever" in the Christ. You carried out that promise when You took on human form in the person of Your Son Jesus Christ. You fulfilled that promise down to the absolute last detail of Jesus being buried in a rich man's grave. You put Yourself on the line for me and Jesus paid the penalty for my sins in the death of a common criminal. As with Joseph of Arimathea, help me to also put myself on the line for Jesus that I may live in the forgiveness that He purchased for me with His life's blood and share that same forgiveness and the hope He give in the Gospel with everyone I can. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.