Fearless

Father, what a weekend! This time of year is always full but even at this hour, I feel I need to come and, as we used to say in my growing up years, sit a spell with You. Fill my heart and mind with You.

Matthew 27:57-61 (<<click to read the passage)

Thinking through this passage this evening, Lord, reminds me of this morning’s Advent Candlelighting Liturgy. We remembered Mary, the mother of Jesus. Some of the words jumped out at me then and now as well – innocent and powerful, sacred and scared, worried and waiting… She sings boldly when she might be meek; she bears her role in history with the confidence of a warrior…

Then we gave thanks for the Marys among us, who step out of the roles society has planned; unintended pioneers determined to do as God asks; fearless and fearfully stepping out in faith, and beckoning us to do the same.

She was surely a courageous young lady. And in many ways, the main character of today’s passage put forth the same actions being fearless and fearfully stepping out in faith.

Joseph of Arimathea had become a follower of Jesus. A parallel passage found in Mark 15:43 states,

[He] took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. (Joseph was an honored member of the high council, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.)

In doing what he did, he laid his reputation on the line. The high council, composed of the Sadducees and the Pharisees, were not all corrupt. Some like Nicodemus (John 3:1-20) and Joseph of Arimathea are two good examples of those who were waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.

They may have been behind the scenes believers but neither of them hesitated when it came to being fearless and fearfully stepping out in faith.

John 19:38-42 tells us that both Joseph and Nicodemus came together to perform this righteous act in giving Jesus a proper burial.

Lord, I am very much out front when it comes to living out my faith but I would also pray that I would be one who would be fearless but though fearful I would step out in faith for You. Amen.

Dec 16^th, 2018, Sun, 9:09 pm