Daily Double: Markin MarkSample

Joseph the Disciple

By Ps Asha

Jesus had a secret disciple!

Here we get to the close of Jesus’ ministry on earth. He had done what He came to do, and everything was leading up to this point, the biggest miracle of all – The Cross.

You know how it goes, don’t you? (Well, if you don’t, you’re about to!)

Jesus, son of God Almighty, perfect, and blameless, took on all this suffering for the sins of the world. Not just enduring physical pain and torture but going all the way to death.

There’s not much more to say on that. Jesus was mocked and beaten, nailed to a cross, He died, He was buried and then… I’ll save that for tomorrow!

Of course, this is the culmination of everything that we’ve unpacked up until now. But there is just one little part that I want to bring to our attention, that I, for one, have always skipped over as more of a passing moment with little significance rather than a game changer.

Verse 43, Joseph of Arimathea. What a guy: rich, powerful, influential, and a 'secret’ disciple according to John. Joseph was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. He boldly asks Pilate for the body of Jesus and his request is granted. Joseph then buries Jesus in his own tomb.

Here’s the reason why this is important to note:
Usually, the bodies of crucified criminals would be left in place on the cross or thrown away in piles to be eaten at by birds and wild dogs. This was another way of lengthening the torture for the convicts' watching families. Such a horrible thing to think about!

But the amazing part of all this is that Joseph was a part of the biggest miracle to date. We don’t really hear much about him anywhere else in the scriptures in terms of the disciples – but this was the moment God used him!

Joseph was used to preserve the body of Jesus, by placing in in his own private tomb, wrapping in linen cloth that he provided. The empty tomb and cloth would later be used as evidence and proof of the resurrection of the Son of God. Joseph also was used by God to fulfill prophecies about Jesus and His burial (Isaiah 53:9).

Did Joseph know the significance of what he was doing at that time? Probably not.
But I wonder what he would think now if he knew what a crucial part he played in this miracle.

I want to challenge each of us today to be a part of what God is doing on the earth. No matter how big or small, seen or unseen your contribution is – it matters. God sees it and wants to use each one of us in powerful ways to see His Kingdom come across the earth. Don’t despise the small ways in which God asks you to step out in obedience. One day you might look back and realize you were a part of a huge miracle!

What is the part that God is asking you to play? Now or in the future?