In the Shadows

So maybe the devotion this morning was something i was just supposed to read and be challenged by or was it that the enemy didn't want me posting it so it got deleted?  Hard to know the answer to that but as i have prayed about reposting it i thought i would try again.  If God allows it to be erased this time then we know the answer :)

This devotion is taken from the book of John 19:38-42.  Joseph of Arimathea and a disciple of Jesus asks Pilate for Jesus' body in order to give him a proper Jewish burial.  Nicodemus goes along to help Joseph and brings 75 lbs of myrrh and aloes to use in the wrapping of Jesus' body.

These two men are among Israel's most influential people.  Both good, upright, seekers of the truth.  Yet both kept their relationship with Jesus in the shadows.  "They feared the controversy and the consequences of making their faith public."

Now picture the scene:  As they approach the hill and then the cross,.."they are stunned to see the lifeless slump of torn flesh that was once such a vital Savior."  the emotion is more than both of the men can bare and they fall to their knees.  "They weep for Jesus."  They weep for what has been done, they weep for those that did this, they weep for those that lost someone they love, they weep for themselves.  For all these two didn't say and didn't do.  They weep of all the thoughts that rush to their minds of how they wanted to hide their connection with this man.

Joseph ascends a ladder that he places on the crossbeam of the cross.  He slowly climbs closer and grimaces as he has to struggle to release the nail that is holding his wrists.  Nicodemus is watching and waiting from the ground.  Preparing himself to receive the body of his Savior in his arms.  As Jesus is lowered into his arms, he feels the weight and his arms clutch his lacerated back still wet with blood.  They gory details could go on as they closely experience all the abuse and disfigurement that took place hours before.  What struck me was this authors focus on the secrecy of their relationships with Jesus.  "In the quiet courtrooms of their hearts, they realize that loving Jesus in private was just another way of despising him and esteeming him not.  And their hearts condemned them for their sins of omission."  At that time they felt guilty, they felt condemned, they just wanted to beat themselves up!  They were ashamed, so very ashamed.  Why didn't they do more or say more or use some of their great influence to try and help prevent this from happening?  They felt like they could have done something, something more.  But they were too worried about their careers.  However, as they shoulder this guilt and the heavy weight of the moment and the body of their Savior, Nicodemus remembers Isaiah's words: "He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death."  WHAT GRACE!

Jesus gave them this verse and they look at each other and realize "they HAVE done something.  They have spared the Savior the shame of a criminal's burial, where he would have been thrown into the garbage dump outside the city."  Can you imagine the emotion, the passion they both feel when they realize that despite their hiding and hesitation God himself ordained this moment AND this job for them!  This still was a dangerous time for them to step out of the shadows.  Hatred for Jesus was at an all time high and being known as one of his friends was definitely not going to make you popular.

This late blooming love is definitely better than a love that doesn't bloom at all!  "....a love that draws the cowards out of the shadows and into a fearless act of befriending their Savior."