Josepph of Arimathea Takes a Stand - A SECRET DISCIPE

 John 19:38 says that Joseph "was a disciple of Jesus but a secret one because of his fear of the Jews."  What was Joseph afraid of ?  He knew of the Jews disdain for Jesus and their determination to expel from any synagogue any who confessed faith in him.  (John 7:45-49; 9:22) Being expelled from the synagogue  meant being scorned, shunned, and treated as an outcast  by fellow Jews. So  Joseph hesitated to confess his faith in Jesus openly. Doing so wouldmean losing his position and his prestige.

Joseph was not the only one in this predicament. According to John 12:42, "many even of the rulers actually put faith in [jesus], but they would not acknowledged  him because of the Pharisees, so  that they would not be expelled from the synagogue." Another individual in the  same situation was Nicodemus, also a member of the Sanhedrin. - JOHN 3:1-10; 7:50-52.

Joseph, though, was a disciple, but he could not bring himself to say so openly. That was a serioud problem, particularly in the light of Jesus' pronouncement.  "Everyone . . . who acknowledeges me beforee men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father who is in hte heavens.  But owever disowns me before men,  I will also disown him before my Father who is in the  heavens." (Matthew 10;32, 33) Joseph did not exactly disown Jesus, but neither did he have the courage to acknowledg him.  Do you? 

To Joseph's credit, The Bible reports that he did not support the Sanhedrin's plt against Jesus.  (Luke  23:51) Perhaps, as some suggest, Joseph was not present at Jesus' trial. Whatever the case, Joseph must have felt wretched about that dreadful perversion of justice - but he could do nothing to stop it!

Next time: Joseph of Arimathea Takes a Stand - INDECESION OVERCOME

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