| August 13, 2000 |
Vol. III, No. 15
|
Webster defines obscure as “not well known, not famous.” That is certainly an accurate description of the man known to us simply as Joseph of Arimathea. In Luke 2:50-53, we learn most of what we know about this man: he was a member of the Sanhedrin (50), he voted against the crucifixion of Jesus (51), and he took the responsibility to prepare and bury the body of Jesus (52-53).
Additionally, we know he was a wealthy man (Matt. 27:57), and he was an honorable man (Mark 15:43) Other than these few facts, Joseph of Arimathea is very much unknown to us today. Yet, what a legacy he left behind.
Yes, he was obscure, but more importantly, he was a servant. Picture the scene in your mind: the body of Jesus hanging from the cross, beaten, bruised, and lifeless... For a disciple of Jesus, the events of the day had been unbearable, but now something must be done to give the Savior of the world a proper burial.
The Bible says that Joseph courageously approached Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. He risked humiliation or even physical harm from the surrounding crowds, but nothing would deter him from burying Jesus in his own, unused tomb. What would prompt a man like Joseph to do such a great deed? Surely there were apostles and other disciples nearby; he could have waited for someone else to step forward, but he did not. Why?
Joseph had an attitude of service. Notice that he volunteered to do this. He wanted this task. No one forced him to do anything, and apparently it was not even suggested to him. He just did it. He had an attitude that wanted to serve. Service, like most everything else, begins with an attitude. We also must have an attitude that wants to serve, not one that says, “I will if I have to,” or “I will do it if you cannot find anyone else.” We should be like Isaiah who said, “Here am I, send me” (Isa. 6:8). Joseph had that attitude, and so he was a servant. With service, as with most things in life, when we want to, we will.
Joseph did what he could. Joseph of Arimathea, as a member of the Sanhedrin, had voted against the crucifixion of Jesus, but had failed in his effort to protect the innocent Savior. But while he could not keep Jesus off the cross, he did own a tomb to bury him. Great servants are not necessarily the richest, smartest, or even the most talented people. Instead, they are the ones who do what they can with what they have. Of the woman who poured oil on the head of Jesus it was said, “She has done what she could” (Mark 14:8). Can that be said of us? We are often tempted to think “If only I had that ability,” or “If only I had that opportunity, then I could serve.” However, a true servant looks for opportunities instead of excuses. Someone has written:
Shamgar had an ox goad, Rahab had a string;
Gideon had a trumpet, David had a sling;
Samson had a jawbone, Moses had a rod;
Dorcas had a needle, all were used for God.
What can I do to serve? I can encourage the discouraged or visit the lonely. I can provide transportation for someone who needs it. I can invite someone to a Bible class... I can volunteer to help with a Bible correspondence course program. The list goes on forever when I look to do what I can.
Joseph was not looking for recognition. Joseph simply went quietly about the business of burying Jesus without any recognition or fanfare. Perhaps he had been in attendance when Jesus taught that if we do good deeds simply to be seen of men, than their recognition is our only reward, Matt. 6:1-6. It is a fundamental fact of the New Testament why we do matters as much as what we do! People can accomplish great things for God when they are willing to serve and when they do not care who gets the credit. As we serve, let us remember to keep our motives pure.
Joseph was serving God. No doubt Joseph spent a lot of time, money, and effort in the burial of Jesus. In addition to wrapping the body in linen, he prepared the body with the expensive spices, aloe and myrrh, John 19:39-40. Then he laid the Savior’s body in a tomb that had never been used, an expensive luxury of that day and time. In doing these he was serving God. Actually, any time we serve our fellow man we are serving God, and when we refuse to serve others we are refusing to serve God, Matt. 25:31-46. I will become a better servant by remembering that when I serve others I am serving God.
While we do not know much about Joseph, we do know he was an obscure servant. Are we willing to follow his example and be the same? First, let us work on having the attitude of a servant. This will cause us to serve when and where we can and for the right reasons. In turn, we will be serving our God.
--Keith Kasarjian, Vigil, May, 2000 (slightly adapted, crj)
After Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, Jesus indicated that His church would be built on the truth of that confession. Upon the solid bed-rock truth of Jesus' identity as the Son of God, His church would have its foundation. And even though Jesus would die before the church came into existence, "the gates of Hades" would not deter Him from His work. Even beyond death, He would build His church. Then Jesus said to Peter, "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:19).
We must note that Jesus gave the same basic authority to all the apostles, not just to Peter. See Matthew 18:18. Of course, Jesus was not in either case, giving the apostles the authority to bind and loose commands on men by their own whims. Scholars tell us that the gist of Jesus' statements is, "whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven." That is, they would be His channels of revelation. They would make known on earth the things that would be revealed from heaven.
There is, however, one thing Jesus said to Peter that was not said to the other apostles. It was to Peter alone that Jesus said He would give the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Because of this promise, many jokes and stories have been told depicting Peter as the gatekeeper to the eternal realm -- "St. Peter at the golden gate." In reality, "the kingdom of heaven" of which Jesus spoke in this context is the same as Christ's church. The basic significance of the word "kingdom" is reign. Christ's heavenly reign is exercised on earth through His church. Christ would build His church and give Peter the keys. Peter would utilize the "keys of the kingdom of heaven," telling individuals how to get into the realm where the benefits of Christ's reign are fully enjoyed, the Lord's church.
Though Peter had no more authority than the other apostles, it was his privilege to announce for the first time how an individual could have his sins forgiven and come into the church or kingdom of Christ. As Peter preached on the Pentecost of Acts 2, he convinced many in his audience that they were guilty of having crucified the Son of God. They were cut to the heart. They saw their need for forgiveness. They asked, "What shall we do?" Peter told those new believers, "Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Christ for the remission of sins.. ." (Acts 2:36-38). Thus the first Jewish converts came into the church or kingdom of Christ, verses 41, 47. In Acts 10:43-48, Peter extended the same privilege to Gentile converts. And thus by Simon Peter was exercised the power to admit both Jews and Gentiles into the same fold of safety -- the church of Christ Jesus.
--CRJ