- Joined
- Oct 26, 2007
- Messages
- 12,539
After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave [him] permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. John 19:38-39 NKJV
Jesus invested in the lives of common men who became disciples. He reprimanded the religious leaders for following a mental checklist while resisting heart transformation. Their commitment to God was reduced to a sad game of show and tell. They considered themselves elite and concluded they should advertise their distinction.
Before Jesus was crucified His disciples deserted Him. After He died there were two religious leaders who surprisingly stood for Jesus even though His own disciples had abandoned Him.
Joseph of Arimathea was the only one to offer a tomb for Jesus’ burial. Nicodemus was a Pharisee who saw Jesus as someone who had divine solutions when his religious order offered a collective shrug.
Even nice, decent, and good choice people need Jesus. It’s easy to think the self-righteous are beyond God’s love. You might think they are annoying in their willingness to make you feel small in your faith. Joseph and Nicodemus prove that Jesus even came for the holier-than-thou.
His ability to transform is limitless.
Prayer: Dear God, prevent me from making judgments about those I think are outside Your willingness to redeem, including the self-righteous. May I remember Your love has no limits. You reach those who know they need rescue and those that stubbornly post a No Help Required Sign. Help me share this news with both.
Jesus invested in the lives of common men who became disciples. He reprimanded the religious leaders for following a mental checklist while resisting heart transformation. Their commitment to God was reduced to a sad game of show and tell. They considered themselves elite and concluded they should advertise their distinction.
Before Jesus was crucified His disciples deserted Him. After He died there were two religious leaders who surprisingly stood for Jesus even though His own disciples had abandoned Him.
Joseph of Arimathea was the only one to offer a tomb for Jesus’ burial. Nicodemus was a Pharisee who saw Jesus as someone who had divine solutions when his religious order offered a collective shrug.
Even nice, decent, and good choice people need Jesus. It’s easy to think the self-righteous are beyond God’s love. You might think they are annoying in their willingness to make you feel small in your faith. Joseph and Nicodemus prove that Jesus even came for the holier-than-thou.
His ability to transform is limitless.
Prayer: Dear God, prevent me from making judgments about those I think are outside Your willingness to redeem, including the self-righteous. May I remember Your love has no limits. You reach those who know they need rescue and those that stubbornly post a No Help Required Sign. Help me share this news with both.
