the Resurrection | Daily Encouragement

“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.” (John 19:38-40, NIV)

Let’s hear it today for “secret disciples.” The folks who, for fear of what other people might do or say, do not wear the religious pendant on a chain; who do not put the fish on their business card; who do not have the license plate with a scripture citation.

When Jesus was being crucified, the most vocal disciple (Peter) was hiding in silence; and the 10 other disciples (Judas having committed suicide) were also keeping out of sight for fear that what had happened to Jesus would also happen to them.

Then there was Nicodemus and Joseph. Their discipleship succeeded where the commitment of the Eleven had failed: Joseph goes to Pilate — the very person who had sentenced Jesus to die — for permission to take the body of Jesus; and Nicodemus totes 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes. Together, they give Jesus a proper burial in a brand-new tomb.

These were not small acts. They did the risky thing (remember the visit to Pilate?). They performed the practical act. They did the literal dirty work (retrieving, washing, and preparing a bloody corpse for burial). They did the costly thing (have you ever priced myrrh and aloes?) They did the literal heavy lifting (75 pounds is a lot when you’re a 130-pound man).

Be very slow to pass judgment on disciples who don’t wear their faith on the sleeve. In fact, be like such “secret disciples” as Joseph and Nicodemus in your daring for what is good and true; your enthusiasm for the small task; the dirty job; the extravagant expression; and the heavy lifting.

Remember the empty tomb? The joy of the “secret disciples,” Joseph and Nicodemus, on Resurrection Day was heightened immeasurably because they acted as they did on Good Friday! – Luther

Tagged Good Friday, Nicodemus, practical acts, secret disciples, the book of John, the Resurrection

May 29

Post-Resurrection

“And he led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.” (Luke 24:50-53, NIV)

For the disciples of Jesus, Jerusalem had been the site of many tragic events over the previous days. In fact, with the death of Jesus, it seemed that all of their dreams had been dashed; and that all of their plans had been trashed.

In the light of the Resurrection, however, they “returned to Jerusalem with great joy.” We can only imagine what the outsiders must have thought about the disciples of Jesus as they saw them in the temple; joyful and praising and blessing God. Perhaps they thought: “Aren’t these the disciples of the man who was crucified on Friday? Why is it that they are now so bright and optimistic?”

The answer, then as now, is this: He lives!

The Resurrection of our Lord trumps every sorrow and redeems every failure. The Resurrection enables us to return to the scene of our greatest humiliation with great joy and confidence. To live in the light of the Resurrection is to truly live! – Luther