Romans 15:4 "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
50 A man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), a good and honorable man 51 (he had not consented to the Council’s plan and action) a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was waiting for and expecting the kingdom of God; 52 this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 And [after receiving permission] he took it down and wrapped it in a linen [burial] cloth and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had yet been laid. 54 It was the day of preparation [for the Sabbath], and the Sabbath was dawning.
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Jesus’ burial was by no means a foregone conclusion, for two main reasons.
First, the crucifixion of criminals was often not the end of their humiliation; they were often barred from the honor of a proper burial.
Second, the release of a corpse depended solely upon a relative or a friend requesting permission to bury the body—and who was left to bury Jesus?
The disciples had fled for their lives, the crowd had dispersed, and the women were unprepared to make such a request.
It is into this moment of history that an entirely unexpected individual emerges authoritatively, suddenly and silently—a highly respected individual who “was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews” (John 19:38).
Fear silenced Joseph of Arimathea up to this point. Jesus’ life and teaching had attracted him, brought him to saving faith, but his faith remained clandestine.
He went about his spiritual business in a secretive way—until the cross brought him out out of the shadows, into the open. And so, after too long hanging back in the shadows, Joseph walked, “went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.”
The Gospel narrative describes Joseph’s careful handling of Jesus’ body as he “took it down” from the cross, “wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid” (Luke 23:53).
We read likewise of Rabbi Nicodemus, “who earlier had come to Jesus by night … bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes” to assist Joseph in the burial process (John 19:39).
Joseph and Nicodemus’ brief and singular appearance is also a clear reminder to us of God’s subtle providence at work at all times and in all places.
God prepared both Joseph and Nicodemus for this very moment. Both were highly fearful and secretive, but God used them for good, just as He does us.
Those first steps away from the darkness will always be the hardest to walk.
Both Joseph and Nicodemus had presumably missed many opportunities to stand up for their true King; they had presumably kept quiet so many times when they should have spoken out.
Yet it was these men whom God ensured would be present on this day for this important task. And both rose to complete it, risking everything—status, his reputation, his safety—to honor Jesus by ensuring that He had a proper burial.
You may find yourself identifying with either Nicodemus or Joseph: you have been living as a secret shadowed disciple, believing but afraid to let anyone in your neighborhood or workplace know about your faith.
If so, then today, pray, like both Joseph and Nicodemus to ask the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive your fearfulness and enable you, like both both men, in the light of the cross, to take your stand boldly for Him in the love of Christ.
You may have missed too many moments in the past when you had the chance to stand for your King; but God is always ready to give you the task of honoring His Son, and in those future efforts you need not pass up the next opportunity.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Praying …
The Lord, the Psalmist’s Portion in Life and Salvation in Death.
16 Protect me, God, for I take refuge in You. 2 [b]I said to the Lord, “You are [c]my Lord; I have nothing good besides You.” 3 As for the [d]saints who are on the earth, [e]They are the majestic ones; all my delight is in them. 4 [f]The pains of those who have acquired another god will be multiplied; I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood, Nor will I take their names upon my lips.
5 The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You support my lot. 6 The measuring lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; Indeed, my inheritance is beautiful to me.
7 I will bless the Lord who has advised me; Indeed, my [g]mind instructs me in the night. 8 I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely. 10 For You will not abandon my soul to [h]Sheol; You will not [i]allow Your [j]Holy One to [k]undergo decay. 11 You will make known to me the way of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these [a]signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born [b]again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born [c]again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. 12 If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
The Word of God for the Kingdom of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Are We Just as Intrigued by The Teacher From God?
John 3:1-3 Amplified Bible
The New Birth
3 Now there was a certain man among the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler (member of the Sanhedrin) among the Jews, 2 who came to Jesus at night and said to Him, “Rabbi (Teacher), we know [without any doubt] that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs [these wonders, these attesting miracles] that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a person is born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified], he cannot [ever] see and experience the kingdom of God.”
Nicodemus was intrigued by all that Jesus was doing.
So he went to talk with Jesus.
“We know that you are a teacher who has come from God,” he politely began.
And Jesus seemed to agree, for he went on to teach Nicodemus things from God.
However, at that time of the might, the very first thing Nicodemus heard from this teacher threw him completely off guard, woke him up. Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
Nicodemus certainly looked for the coming of God’s kingdom—every pious Jew did. He believed that God was coming, and that everyone would see his coming.
But Jesus told Nicodemus that he wouldn’t see God’s kingdom at all unless he was born again—not in the sense of becoming a baby once more, but in being “born from above.” (The Greek word for “again” also means “from above.”)
Jesus means that entering into God’s Kingdom we need new eyes if we are to see God’s presence, new ears to hear his voice, and a new heart to love and obey the Lord. We need to be reborn, this time from above, by the power of God’s Spirit.
For me, this is an ongoing project. (See 2 Corinthians 3:18.)
2 Corinthians 3:12-18 Amplified Bible
12 Since we have such a [glorious] hope and confident expectation, we speak with great courage, 13 and we are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the Israelites would not gaze at the end of the glory which was fading away. 14 But [in fact] their minds were hardened [for they had lost the ability to understand]; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed [only] in Christ. 15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil [of blindness] lies over their heart; 16 but whenever a person turns [in repentance and faith] to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom]. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, continually seeing as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are progressively being transformed into His image from [one degree of] glory to [even more] glory, which comes from the Lord, [who is] the Spirit.
Each morning I need to pray for new eyes and new ears and a new heart to see and hear and respond to God. I’m thinking we all do too. Would you join me?
Are we just as Intrigued with Entering God’s Kingdom
John 3:4-12 Amplified Bible
4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh [the physical is merely physical], and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be surprised that I have told you, ‘You must be born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified].’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be possible?” 10 Jesus replied, “You are the [great and well-known] teacher of Israel, and yet you do not know nor understand these things [from Scripture]? 11 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, we speak only of what we [absolutely] know and testify about what we have [actually] seen [as eyewitnesses]; and [still] you [reject our evidence and] do not accept our testimony. 12 If I told you earthly things [that is, things that happen right here on earth] and you do not believe, how will you believe and trust Me if I tell you heavenly things?
When we read the Gospel Narratives, we discover that a large part of Jesus’ earthly ministry involved him preaching the good news of God’s kingdom.
He traveled through towns and villages telling people, essentially teaching us, There is a kingdom, and I’m the King. You’re not in the kingdom yet—but if you’ll give it all up, follow Me, you will be the King’s subject and a citizen of the kingdom.
Jesus teaches that when we pray “Your kingdom come” (Luke 11:2), therefore, our very desire should be that men and women would be brought into Christ’s kingdom by new birth—that they would become committed followers of Jesus.
Luke 11:1-2 Amplified Bible
Instruction about Prayer
11 It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them,
“When you pray, [a]say: ‘[b]Father, [c]hallowed be Your name. [d]Your kingdom come.
We pray for those who still live in rebellion against God to be “delivered … from the domain of darkness and to be transferred … unto the kingdom of his beloved Son” (Colossians 1:13-14).
Colossians 1:13-14 Amplified Bible
The Incomparable Christ
13 For He has rescued us and has drawn us to Himself from the dominion of darkness, and has transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption [because of His sacrifice, resulting in] the forgiveness of our sins [and the cancellation of sins’ penalty].
Jesus made it perfectly clear that the only way to enter into His kingdom is by this new birth.
Jesus’ encounter with High Rabbi Nicodemus in John 3 underscores this truth.
Nicodemus was a highly educated highly respected religious man, a man of high authority and great influence—yet he was still restless, intrigued, still seeking.
As he secretly engaged Jesus in this 2 or 3am shadowed conversation, Jesus pointed out the necessary prerequisite for both seeing, entering His kingdom: to be born again by the Spirit.
This new birth is brought about, Jesus said, not by nature but as a result of God’s Spirit working a miracle in the human heart.
No one is able to enter the kingdom without Him working in them and through them; that no one is too far away from the kingdom for Him to work in them.
When we pray for God’s kingdom to come, we are asking for eyes to be opened and ears to be unstopped, mouths to be shut to just sit or stand still to just listen so our wisest wisdom and our personal, well taught, “understood,” “practiced” orthodoxy is thoroughly challenged, and so men and women may be born again.
God’s Truth is The King is coming to usher in His everlasting kingdom, and the King is at work today by His Spirit to bring men and women into that kingdom.
Until the day of our King’s return, may your measure of intrigue be raised, may your interest in people, awareness of the way people enter Christ’s kingdom, produce an increasing awe and wonder over your own conversion and a burning passion to pray the Spirit would do what only He can in the hearts of we the lost.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
You are right, Jesus. I desperately need different eyes and ears and a new heart to live with you and for you today. Grant them to me, pray raise higher my intrigue of You. raise my awareness of You, my interest in my neighbors, far deep into Your heavens.
Psalm 119:1-23 New American Standard Bible 1995
Meditations and Prayers Relating to the Law of God.
Aleph.
119 How blessed are those whose way is [a]blameless, Who walk in the law of the Lord. 2 How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all their heart. 3 They also do no unrighteousness; They walk in His ways. 4 You have [b]ordained Your precepts, [c]That we should keep them diligently. 5 Oh that my ways may be established To keep Your statutes! 6 Then I shall not be ashamed When I look [d]upon all Your commandments. 7 I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments. 8 I shall keep Your statutes; Do not forsake me utterly!
Beth.
9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. 10 With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments. 11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. 12 Blessed are You, O Lord; Teach me Your statutes. 13 With my lips I have told of All the ordinances of Your mouth. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, [e]As much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate on Your precepts And [f]regard Your ways. 16 I shall [g]delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word.
Gimel.
17 Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word. 18 Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law. 19 I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me. 20 My soul is crushed [h]with longing After Your ordinances at all times. 21 You rebuke the arrogant, [i]the cursed, Who wander from Your commandments. 22 Take away reproach and contempt from me, For I observe Your testimonies. 23 Even though princes sit and talk against me, Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
Daleth.
25 My soul cleaves to the dust; Revive me according to Your word. 26 I have told of my ways, and You have answered me; Teach me Your statutes. 27 Make me understand the way of Your precepts, So I will meditate on Your wonders. 28 My soul [k]weeps because of grief; Strengthen me according to Your word. 29 Remove the false way from me, And graciously grant me Your law. 30 I have chosen the faithful way; I have [l]placed Your ordinances before me.
23 Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart; Test me and know my anxious thoughts; 24 And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 