John 19:36-42

 John 19:36-42

Four little words create a problem for us in verse 38.  Joseph of Arimathea was a disciple of Jesus but these four words describe him: “but a secret one”.  The issue is further complicated by the motivation of “for fear of the Jews”.  Joseph’s discipleship is not doubted.  He is not described as one who was a former disciple and walked away.  He is not like the rich young ruler who came to the moment of discipleship and at the last moment went away sad because he was rich.  Joseph is a disciple!

We can ask the question, “Whose ideal is this secrecy?” We often jump to the conclusion that the secret was kept by Joseph as his own desire to protect himself.  But that is a conclusion we suppose not a statement of scripture.  We may project our timidity on to Joseph and assume that his motive would be like ours.  But maybe there is a different motive and explanation.

How is it that Joseph was able to go directly to Pilate and request the body?  For a member of the council to go directly to the governor to ask for Jesus’ body has caused some scholars to propose that Joseph had a friendly relationship with Pilate.  Additionally it would have been unlikely that the Roman authorities would have turned the body of a supposed revolutionary over to a disciple of that revolutionary.  Joseph was in the perfect position to secure the body after death and arrange for the secure burial.  (We must never loose sight of the critical importance of the secure burial.)  His unique role was made possible by two things his loyal discipleship and its secret nature.  He was more of a clandestine operator than a coward. 

The point is not that we should be a secret disciple nor that we should be vocal and outspoken about our faith.  The point is that we should be a disciple that will leverage all of our opportunities, relationships, and connections to accomplish the purpose of our Master.

 

“Lord, help me use all that I have for You. AMEN.”