Reflections of Grace
OUT OF THE SHADOWS
Scripture
John 19:38-42
38After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was 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 away his body.39Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight.40So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.41Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.42So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.
Reflect
- 1.Joseph of Arimathea was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because of fear. Where has fear made your faith quieter than it should be?
- 2.Nicodemus came with an extravagantly expensive mixture of spices. What does his act teach you about honoring Jesus with what is valuable to you?
- 3.In verse 40, Joseph and Nicodemus carefully prepared Jesus’ body for burial. How does their service remind you that faithfulness still matters in dark and painful moments?
Exposition
We know what it's like to keep our faith secret. Most of us have been there. To love Jesus from the shadows, afraid of what others might think. Joseph of Arimathea was a secret disciple. So was Nicodemus, the one who came under cover of darkness. They had followed Jesus from a distance for fear of the Jews.
But when Jesus died, something changed. The cross broke something open in them. Joseph risked his reputation, his position on the council, perhaps even his life to ask Pilate for the body. Nicodemus brought seventy-five pounds of spices, a king's burial, costly and extravagant. The dead Jesus drew his hidden followers into the light. They touched a corpse. They prepared a tomb. They gave him a resting place.
Jesus died for secret sins and hidden fears, too. This gives us hope because God is patient with fearful disciples. He does not despise small beginnings and can bring hidden faith into the light. What fear once kept quiet, grace can make courageous. The cross has a way of drawing people out of the shadows.
Joseph and Nicodemus remind us that it is never too late for hidden faith to become visible. Jesus is worthy of open devotion, even in dark moments. So stop waiting to feel brave. Look to the cross. See the love that was willing to be exposed, shamed, and killed for you. Then step out of your shadows. It might cost you something. But it will also find you. The One for whom you come out of hiding is the One who already came out of the tomb.
Prayer
“Lord Jesus, you were not ashamed to be counted among criminals for my sake. Forgive me for keeping my faith hidden behind fear and respectability. Thank you for the example of Joseph and Nicodemus, who came out of the shadows to honor you. Give me the courage to identify with you openly, even when it costs me. Let my love for you speak louder than my fear of them. And remind me that because you rose, I have nothing left to hide. Amen.”
LWNRA · Daily Word