Can the Right Perspective Make Us Bold Against Tragedies?
When tragedies come into our lives it is hard to stand up or to move. Despair, anxiety, and fear paralyze our hearts. It is hard to see beyond the tragedy. That seemed to be the case with the apostles that day. All but John were far away as they stood beneath the cross when Jesus died. There stood John, Mary and 3 other women. What next? How would they bury Jesus? Did they even have time to think of that? They were certainly not people of financial means. The body of those that died on the cross were usually thrown into one large common grave.
Out of the crowds came one unexpected disciple that boldly went before Pilate to request the body. That was Joseph of Arimathea. We do not know a lot about Joseph of Arimathea; but, we do know that he was a rich man. We also know that he was a member of the Sanhedrin (the Jewish legislation). We are told by John that he had been “secret about his discipleship” out of fear. Yet, he boldly stepped forward to request the body so that he could place the body of Jesus in a “tomb that had never been used.” All of this was very important to later prove the resurrection of Jesus. All had been meticulously orchestrated by God. So what in the midst of this tragedy caused Joseph of Arimathea to be so bold and Nicodemus to join him? The keys to his boldness is the same keys that we might hold fast to when tragedy hits our own lives. I want to share with you the four keys I found in scripture that explains his boldness and faith at that moment. The same 4 keys that can help you and I when tragedies come as well.
1. A View of the Bigger Picture. Both in the book of Mark and in Luke we are told that Joseph of Arimathea “waited for the kingdom” (Mark 16:13 and Luke 23:51). These are the same words that had been used of Simeon in Luke 2:25-35. Simeon was referred to as a just and devout man filled with the Holy Spirit. He, upon seeing Jesus as a baby, recognized that he was the Messiah. He spoke to Mary and said, “Behold this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed” Luke 2:34-35. See, Simeon knew that the Messiah must die for the salvation of mankind. So, Simeon was able to see the bigger picture. Joseph’s boldness came out of a view of the bigger picture—this was not the end of the story. He may not have known exactly what came next; but, he trusted that God had a bigger picture and this was a part of it.
2. Compelled by a Greater Love—He had grown to love Jesus as he had listened to the teachings of the humble Master and King. Perhaps, even he spoken with Nicodemus about the meeting Nicodemus had with Jesus in the night. We know that it was a very loving and respectful manner in which he cared for the body as he laid it in the tomb. He, being a man of wealth had so meticulously had this sepulcher hewn out of the rock to be his own grave someday. Now, he was to give his grave to Jesus.
3. Knowledge of the Scripture. Was it that Joseph of Arimathea understood the scripture well? While the other priests were focused on a kingdom in which they were empowered; Joseph realized that first, the Savior must die. That was what the prophecies in Isaiah 53, Zechariah 12:10, and Psalms 22 had pointed to.
4. Faith in the Words of Jesus—Over and over again through the ministry of Jesus, He had foretold of his coming death. He had even said that he would be resurrected again. One example being in Matthew 12: 40 “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth”
The same is true when we face great tragedies or those things for which we don’t fully understand in this life. We must first remember that this is not our final destination. We are a part of a much bigger picture that God is painting with every stroke of his brush. Our understanding of God’s great love for us as demonstrated at the cross, should compel our hearts to love him above all else—helping us to be willing to walk through whatever fire we face so that we might bring honor to His name. We must have a full knowledge of the scripture, so that we can clearly see the bigger picture and so that the Holy Spirit can remind us of the words we need in the moment of trials. Finally, we trust in the promises of God that He has a plan for us that is for our good, our ultimate joy, and our future purchased and paid for by the blood of His dearly beloved Son.’
The Song I chose for you today is: Trust His Heart
photograph used is courtesy of https://unsplash.com/erichuang78910
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2016
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.