Another day has passed and here I sit before You once more, Father. It’s hard to believe that five and a half years have gone by since I started this adventure. Thank You, Father, for the inspiration to continue to move forward. Bless and multiply Your gift to me! Use it as You will.
Luke 23:50-56 (<<click here to read the passage)
One of the most disturbing things about the culture in which we live is that we are extremely divided. And to make matters worse, many feel free to share their preferences and utter disdain for those who disagree. Another bad aspect of this mentality is that we have a great tendency to throw everyone in the same pot.
For example, regardless of one’s political affiliation, we have nothing good to say about anyone that associates themselves with the party that opposes our party. We don’t care to know them. We just automatically dislike them!
The same goes for collegiate competition. Pick your team and there is going to be a rival team who many would have absolutely nothing positive to say about them. It’s crazy to me but many of Ohio State University’s fans lump the entire state of Michigan onto their “bad” list simply because the University of Michigan has been a major rival for years! (And to beat all, some OSU fans took offense at me thinking that that isn’t really something they should be doing!)
In today’s passage, for the very first time, we meet Joseph of Arimathea. He was a good and righteous man but (GASP!), he was a member of the Jewish high council i.e., the Sanhedrin. “What? But those are the bad guys! They opposed Jesus at every opportunity! He can’t be one of them (said with dripping disdain) and be a “good guy”. That’s just not possible!”
Well, if that’s what you think…then you’d be wrong.
Now throughout Jesus’ ministry, Joseph might have been a “secret” follower, but when it really counted, he stood straight and true. (Make sure you don’t miss the fact that for the most part, those closest to Jesus – those who had followed by His side for years, His nearest and dearest friends – were nowhere to be found!)
Though he was affiliated with those who opposed Jesus, he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come and he had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other religious leaders.
Regardless of what it might cost him, Joseph took the chance and spoke to Pilate about giving Jesus a proper burial…no one else did – though remember that his compatriot Nicodemus helped him in his task of love and respect for the Man who had truly shown them the ways of God. (John 19:38-42)
So, as we find ourselves in the midst of divisions and strife, don’t automatically throw everyone into the same pot. Guilt by association is not something a follower of Christ should apply so readily. Remember Jesus was a friend of sinners (Matthew 11:16-19, for example) and we should follow His example. Amen?
Jan 14th, 2021, 8:21 pm
