Question: Who buried Jesus? Answer: Some courageous cowards

Maybe I should first ask, "Who didn't bury Jesus?" Well, for one, the Jewish rulers didn't bury him. I doubt they really even cared what happened to his body. In fact, they may have been far too busy celebrating the moment they heard the reports he was dead to give any thought to who would remove the body from the cross. Sadly, those we might have most expected to bury him didn't accept responsibility either - His beloved apostles. They were the ones who said they would never be offended at him. They had said they were willing to die for Him, yet they did not come forward to bury him. They were hiding in fear.

So who will step forward and bury this poor man? Two of the most unlikely candidates-

Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea (Mt. 27:57). He was a prominent member of the counsel who was looking for the kingdom of God (Mk. 15:43). He was a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews (John 19:38). The Bible says, "he gathered up courage and went before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus" (Mk. 15:43). His request was granted so he "took it down and wrapped it" (Lk. 23:53).

That is worth thinking about - the task of removing Jesus body from the cross that is. Have you ever seen paramedics trying to remove a body from the scene of an accident? It is a bleak and hopeless scene. As Joseph looked up from the ground he saw a dead body, dangling, limp. As he pried the nails from the hands the body would have fallen forward under its own weight - a disturbing, lifeless, powerless, hopeless body.

But as he successfully removed Jesus from the cross another figure emerges from the shadows to assist him - Nicodemus. Like Joseph, Nicodemus too was on the council (John 3:1). He had kept his belief secret as well only appearing to Jesus in the night, Prior to this event it is likely that neither man knew of the others faith. Early on Nicodemus had confessed faith in Jesus privately, but it wasn't enough. Both belonged to the same class of men - "many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue. " (John 12:42)

Strange how people can change isn't it? In this story the more fearful (Joseph, Nicodemus) have become bolder, while the bolder (Apostles) have become more fearful. The earlier courageous apostles have become cowards, while the earlier cowards (Nicodemus, Joseph) have become courageous. The men who had risked everything (apostles) now retreat, while the men who had risked nothing step forward. We might consider the possibility that had it been us there, we may have been a Joseph or Nicodemus (rich man, prominent in the counsel, good righteous, not agreeing with their plans, yet a disciple in secret).

Where do you stand if placed in this picture? Are you the courageous who has become a coward or a coward who has become courageous? For most of us it is a daily challenge to choose. For most of us we struggle just as the men on both sides, we daily wrestle with our fears, sometimes overcoming them and at other times being overcome by them.

What is the solution? It is in their story! Where does courage come from? We, like Joseph, must stand at the cross and look upon the limp, dangling body. It is upon seeing the sacrifice made for us in spite of our cowardice that that causes us to gather up courage. Where does courage come from? From taking to heart what Jesus told Nicodemus long ago - unless a man is born again he cannot enter then kingdom of heaven (John 3:3). We must keep coming forward every day! We must gather courage to face society (Mt. 10:33), to stand before our family (Mt. 10:34). We must learn to trust God that he can take care of us (Mt. 10:19-20, 28-32). We are probably all guilty of being cowards at one time or another. It's time that we become courageous cowards as they were, repent, take up our cross and follow him.

Mike