Vol. 2, No. 43 – 10-22-2017
Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. Mark 15:43
When John Sculley was CEO of Pepsi, Inc., Steve Jobs (of Apple fame) asked him a confronting question: “Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water, or do you want a chance to change the world?”
There comes a time in our lives that we must make decisions over the choices before us in life. How we respond makes a difference in our patterns of life. Sometimes these decisions are urgent, or at the very least, impacting.
Lebron James indicated that at the point of winning or losing the NBA Championship it was “crunch time.” It was time to divide the men from the boys; it was time to determine if they, the Cleveland Cavaliers, were just going to be “also-rans.” Others have made similar remarks.
Joseph was at the “crunch time.” Who was he?
- A man of integrity, of noble character
- A man of determined carefulness
- A religious man; spiritually centered
- A respected man; one of the 70 men of the Sanhedrin
- A wealthy man; owned a tomb fit for the burial of a King
- A man who waited for the kingdom of God
- Secretly a disciple of Jesus (John 19:38)—but not secretive
Secretly is grammatically that “he was hidden; secreted.”
Joseph was not afraid of being put out of the Temple, disbarred from the Sanhedrin, or excluded from eating the Passover. Joseph was afraid of the Jews putting him in prison before he accomplished the work he had been purposed and prepared himself to do—to prepare a burial for his King—an opinion of Andrew Bonar
Faith brings an opportunity to shine in the darkness at a time for which one is called to make a difference. As we read of the events that surround the persecution and trial of Jesus; as we read of His death, the common reaction of his followers was to run. Many who had heard Him speak, showing love toward Him, departed upon His arrest, trial, and crucifixion.
What would you have done? Really? Joseph demonstrated love for Jesus when He was silent, and when He was dead as the Man of God. Perhaps Joseph understood more clearly that Jesus would be alive forevermore. Joseph did not make sugar water; he took action to show the world the One to whom belief is absolutely necessary—an allegiance that would change the world.
What will you do when your “crunch time” arrives? You will have to make a choice as to what comes next. Faith is the tool of life that brings us to face our “crunch time” choices.
Will you spend your life making sugar water; or will you participate in changing the world?
Joseph gave Jesus use of his tomb. He stepped off the map to make a difference for the world. He was the “unknown” Christian for the time.
What are you doing as the “unknown” to make the availability of Christ “known.” Where is your map? Or, are you just sitting by drinking your sugar water.
It is time to make a difference.
The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are bold as a lion. Proverbs 28:1
