Today’s reading is John 19.
What would happen to our congregation if persecution happened with intensity. If the government or our community decided to take up arms against the disciples of Jesus and His churches, how would we fare? If false religions or even false Christianities decided to imprison, torture, or execute genuine disciples (as has happened in the past), who among us would endure?
I’m guessing we might be surprised. John presents a surprising turn of events in the crucifixion of Jesus. Granted, what happens at the crucifixion is not the final say in the matter, but I can’t help but notice the reversal of place John presents of the disciples in this trying moment. The twelve are scattered. That is, the ones who have been most committed, most public, most stalwart while Jesus was conducting His public and relatively popular ministry abandoned Jesus. One of them betrayed Him. One denied Him three times. The rest were simply nowhere to be found. Even after the resurrection had been reported, they were hiding in a room for fear of the Jews.
However, by contrast we see Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. Nicodemus first came to Jesus under the cover of darkness, by night. Then we see him not fully defending Jesus, but at least trying to forestall some of the worst treatment. When does Nicodemus finally step up and demonstrate allegiance to Jesus? Now that Jesus has been executed and seemingly defeated. Joseph of Arimathea is a completely new person. His “discipleship” has been so secret we haven’t even heard of him until John brings him up in this chapter. And John says Joseph “was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews.” That’s not much of a disciple, is it? In fact, previously, in John, not publicly confessing Jesus for fear of the Jews was not a good thing. We are not to think Joseph has been fully faithful up until this point. He’s been a coward up until this point. But at this surprising point, his discipleship becomes confessed.
Had it been left up to the apostles, Jesus’s body would have been removed from the cross and unceremoniously dumped in a common grave. But secret disciples, stepped out of the darkness into the light and the most surprising of moments. What a shocking reversal. What a shocking time for it to happen.
Please, don’t misunderstand. This doesn’t justify being a cowardly, unconfessing disciple right now and simply hoping you’ll eventually come through in the clutch. Far better to be Daniel whose habit of public submission to God was developed when it was easier and therefore already established for when it was hard. Rather, let this be an encouragement to you that if you haven’t been forthright and courageous about your faith in Jesus until now, today is a good day to start. Sure, you’ll be a surprise to some people (maybe even to yourself), but its never a bad time to step up, confess Jesus as Lord, and give your allegiance to Him completely. Joseph and Nicodemus did so at the oddest of times. But they did so. And that’s what matters.
Tomorrow’s reading is John 19.
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PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family
How does John 19 prompt or improve your hope in God?
Read the Bible 