Verse of the Day 4/23

Through the Bible - Ecclesiastes 1-3, Revelation 10

 

Good morning,

Today is a day when it is easy to think of the in between times.  They are times of waiting, times of uncertainty, and they are also a time of action.

 

For today's verse we'll go to Mark 15.  Jesus has been crucified and Pilot has released the body to Joseph of Arimathea.

 

Mark 15:45 The officer confirmed that Jesus was dead, so Pilate told Joseph he could have the body. 46 Joseph bought a long sheet of linen cloth. Then he took Jesus' body down from the cross, wrapped it in the cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone in front of the entrance.  NLT

 

It is Joseph and Nicodemas who come forward and take Jesus body for proper burial preventing a likely public spectacle of what might have been done with the body. They had kept their allegiance to Jesus secret while Jesus was alive but now come forward while Jesus disciples who had followed Him openly now went off into hiding.   Warren Wiersbe writes that "It was Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus (John 19:38-42) that God had prepared to protect the body of Jesus and bury it (Isa 53:9; Matt 27:57). Nicodemus had come to Jesus by night (John 3), but now he stepped out into the light and took his stand for Christ. Had these two brave men not buried the body of Jesus, it might have been disposed of in some humiliating manner. It is important to the legitimacy of the Gospel message that the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ be authenticated as historic facts (1 Cor 15:1-4)."

In going through times of illness or other serious trials, we may be surprised to see who God sends forward as His instruments to help in times of need, the ones who will step forward when others fade into the background. 

 

There were insiders and outsiders among Jesus' followers then as there are now.   God would call each of them.  In this case, Joseph and Nicodemius had been called had been prepared earlier for "such a time as this".   We should be careful in how we judge either side, insiders our outsiders, for we don't know how God will use any of us to achieve His purposes.  When the going gets tough and the tough are long gone God will bring someone along to carry on, to carry out His plan.  Perhaps you'll be such a person.

 

We are still in the in-between time now.  In-between the first and second coming.  Our actions will show our allegiance while we wait and hope for His return.

 

In Christ,
Mike

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV
Mark 15:42-16:1

 

The Burial of Jesus

 

42 This all happened on Friday, the day of preparation, the day before the Sabbath. As evening approached, 43 Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. (Joseph was an honored member of the high council, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.) 44 Pilate couldn't believe that Jesus was already dead, so he called for the Roman officer and asked if he had died yet. 45 The officer confirmed that Jesus was dead, so Pilate told Joseph he could have the body. 46 Joseph bought a long sheet of linen cloth. Then he took Jesus' body down from the cross, wrapped it in the cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone in front of the entrance. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where Jesus' body was laid.  NLT