It was Preparation Day … Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.

Mark 15:42-43 
 New International Version (NIV)

For Meditation

I have heard about horrific scenes of vultures tearing into dead bodies on the cross after crucifixion. Such a possibility tormented me when I saw the crowd dispersing after my Master was crucified. Even though I stood a safe distance away from the scene, I could still count His blood-stained ribs. None of them were broken though, but the sight of it sent me to Gethsemane. I now understand why Jesus said His soul was exceedingly sorrowful and asked us to watch and pray with Him.

Though my eyes were heavy, I could still hear His groaning in prayer and asking the Father to let the cup pass over Him, if that was possible. Regret sweeps over me when I remembered how I had disappointed Him then, and finally disowned Him when challenged by a servant girl. What next now? What can I do to give my Lord a fitting burial – at least to get His body down and away from a possible feast by the vultures? But Jesus was right. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Much as I gathered courage to go and ask for permission for the body, my knees buckled. Rather, I hurdled with my colleagues in the Upper Room, shaken to the core. So, can you imagine my delight when I heard that a man called Joseph from Arimathea had done just that? My surprise was that he was a prominent member of the Council that had sentenced my Lord to death. Never in my wildest imagination did I consider the possibility of a disciple among those Jesus haters; but I guess I was wrong.

Though Nicodemus, another member of the Sanhedrin, had come to the Lord under cover of night sometime ago, but that was the last I heard of him. I never thought there was another person from that band who followed Jesus so closely. But, just as God reserved seven thousand in Israel who had not bowed their knees to Baal, so had He raised some believers among the national leaders for Himself. Isn’t He wonderful?

So, take heart, my friend. God has you covered when everybody abandons you. God has a Joseph of Arimathea in the most unlikely place to rescue you from disgrace when necessary.

I have since secretly met Joseph and Nicodemus a couple of times. From our fellowship, I have learned how much they had followed the teachings and miracles of Jesus. They had been waiting for the kingdom of God, and they found it in Jesus. Joseph said he had carefully chronicled the events of Jesus’s life and short ministry before boldly concluding that He is the Messiah the nation had been waiting for. But how could he boldly declare it plainly among his fellow councilors who wanted His blood? He said He didn’t even know that Nicodemus was with him until he obtained permission from Pilate to take the body down for burial. God never ceases to amaze me.

It is the day after, and the city is quiet. From our hideout, I am considering the events of the week. There are many disappointments to crush my heart than to cheer me. I have done nothing deserving of the leader my Lord has called me to be over His people. Nothing but one failure after another. I have talked big but done nothing of substance when called to act on my words.

The worst feeling is when I consider our future. We had left everything to follow Jesus. I had come to trust Him. He is the Messiah, Son of the living God. I had confessed that. His miracles were beyond dispute to support that claim. I had seen and heard it all, and I was convinced that I was on the right side of history.

So, why did He have to die that way? Why didn’t He fight back? How can God die? Did I get it right or not? What next?

Well, we all live to see what tomorrow brings; don’t we?