In The Word
Read: Luke 23:44-56
44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 because the sun was obscured; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent.” 48 And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, when they observed what had happened, began to return, beating their breasts.49 And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things.
Jesus Is Buried
50 And a man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man 51 (he had not consented to their plan and action), a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was waiting for the kingdom of God; 52 this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 And he took it down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever lain. 54 It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.55 Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes.
And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Matthew, Mark, and Luke record that when Yahshua died, tremendous physical marvels took place: the sky became dark for three hours, an earthquake occurred that split rocks, the thick temple veil was torn from top to bottom, and dead bodies came to life that walked in the city. Those around the cross that witnessed Yahshua’s death and these marvelous signs were greatly impacted. Joseph of Arimathea, a religious leader and secret follower of Yahshua, asked to have Yahshua’s body to properly bury in his personal tomb before the Sabbath.
Joseph of Arimathea listened to Yahshua’s teachings and had either seen or heard of Yahshua’s many miracles. He decided to follow Yahshua, but did it secretly “for fear of the Jews” (John 19:38). To follow Yahshua would have likely cost Joseph his position as a religious leader, access to the Temple to worship God, his reputation, and much more.
Are you following Yahshua secretly? Or only revealing your faith among people who will not ridicule or reject you? Not to display your faith in Yahshua boldly to everyone is to be ashamed of Yahshua. And Yahshua warned, “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him” (Luke 9:26). There is the very likely high cost of rejection by man to follow Yahshua, but it is nowhere near the cost of shame by Yahshua. Choose today to unashamedly stand for Yahshua, who lived and died for you without shame.