The Day Death Died: A Holy Week DevotionalSample

The Secret Disciple

READ

After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. . . . Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. John 19:38, 41–42

Additional Reading: Matthew 27:57–61; Mark 15:42–47; Luke 24:50–53

REFLECT

“It is finished.”

These were the final words of Jesus right before He breathed His last. To His followers, His death was a very painful experience. To the Jews and religious people, it meant that they finally got what they wanted. The words “Crucify Him!” had come to pass. After all this happened, an obscure man found the boldness to see his teacher and honor His death.

Not much is known about Joseph of Arimathea, except that he was a righteous, rich and respected man. Most importantly, he was a disciple of Jesus. While Jesus was crucified and many of His disciples hid out of fear, Joseph was one of the few who came to the place of the crucifixion.

Joseph mustered an enormous amount of courage just to be there, let alone ask the authorities for permission to take Jesus’ body. Anyone with bad intentions could have reported Joseph. He could have suffered the same punishment as Jesus. His wealth, reputation and character were at stake. But Joseph did not waver and received the body of Jesus from Pilate.

That was just the half of it. Since this happened on the Day of Preparation, Joseph needed to bury Jesus’ body before the Sabbath. Imagine the emotions and thoughts running through his mind! He would have to figure out what to do with Jesus’ body in time or he would be caught violating the law. Thankfully, he found a new tomb nearby where no one had yet been laid.

At the time, bringing a dead body to the grave seemed ordinary enough. Joseph physically prepared Jesus’ body for burial. Little did he know that this was a precursor and symbolic preparation of what was to come and that this tomb would become the place of a most miraculous event—the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus, then dead, was to be raised to life victorious over sin and death.

As we meditate on God’s word this week, let us be reminded that He gives us the boldness and courage to overcome our most difficult situations. Death does not have the final say—therefore, we wait on the Lord!

RESPOND

• Why do you think Joseph was a secret disciple? What do you think made him courageous? What do you think he was thinking, feeling, and experiencing before the death of Christ and after His resurrection?
• Do people know that you are a disciple of Christ? What can you learn from the life of Joseph today?
• In the face of challenges or persecution, how do you respond? Would you have done the same thing Joseph did? Why or why not?