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Secret Follower

Secret Follower
Words of Faith 3-29-17
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2017
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
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John 19
[38] Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. [39] He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. [40] Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. [41] At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. [42] Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

The bodies of executed criminals were normally left to animals and then eventually thrown into a pit. Only the wealthy were buried with much dignity. Two rather unexpected people showed up to care for the body of Jesus, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. Both were respected members of the Jewish aristocracy who had come to be secret disciples of the Lord. The secret was now out.
Matthew tells us that Joseph was wealthy. Mark tells us that he was a member of the Sanhedrin and was "waiting for the kingdom of God". Luke informs us that he had not concurred in the vote of the council to condemn Jesus. Joseph's request for the body of Jesus was an admission of his faith.
Nicodemus appeared earlier in John’s Gospel. In his initial interview with Jesus (ch. 3), Nicodemus learned that he must be born-again to enter the Kingdom of God. He later defended Jesus before the council of the Sanhedrin. God was clearly at work in him (7:45-52). As a member of the Sanhedrin, it was very risky for Nicodemus to trust in Jesus. He was apparently a secret disciple whose faith grew slowly.
The normal burial process in the first century included the use of spices to diffuse the smell of decay during the period of mourning. Nicodemus provided a very large quantity of expensive spices revealing his wealth and appreciation of Jesus. Because of the laws of ritual purity, contact with a dead body caused one to be ritually unclean. It was no small sacrifice for Joseph and Nicodemus to care for the body of Jesus. They would not be permitted to observe the “special Sabbath” related to the Passover.
In modern Jewish society, there is a special group of people who quietly care for the bodies of the dead. It is a very loving act of service in which men care for males and women care for females washing and preparing the body for burial. Joseph and Nicodemus took for themselves this tender service.
We can only wonder what their thoughts might have been as they quietly washed the body of Jesus, gently cleaned his wounds, carefully applied the spices, and tenderly wrapped Him for burial. They may have regretted not having taken a stand sooner. Of course, it was their very secrecy that allowed them the opportunity for this act of service. Perhaps they may have wondered how all this had come to pass. They may have recalled the words of the Lord during their encounters with Him or the observations they had made standing at the back of the crowd. We don’t know.
Whatever the case, today would be different. Their lives would never be the same. Joseph and Nicodemus had stepped out the crowd. They were not longer secret followers. They had crossed a line. They had taken a stand. They cast caution to the wind. They were committed now. There was no turning back.
It is interesting that Jewish records from this period do not record the names of Nicodemus or Joseph of Arimathea. Scholars suggest that their names would have been erased from the proud lists of the day because of such an act as this. If so, this was the price they paid for loving Jesus.
Are you a secret follower? Have you admired Jesus and learned to love Him, but never taken a public stand? Have you stayed in the back of the crowd? Perhaps today is the day He wants you to step out of that place of secrecy.

Lord Jesus. I am ready to cross the line. I am ready to take a stand. I am ready to step out of the crowd. No more secret admiration. No more worry over my reputation or what others may think. I am ready to do whatever is needed. Anywhere. Anytime. No matter the cost. I am Your disciple. In Jesus’ name.