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Daily Treasure
Daily Treasure is a 365-day devotional written by published author Sharon Betters and the occasional guest author. Every entry in this 365-day devotional embodies the power of God’s Word to encourage, equip, and energize the reader to walk by faith in the pathway God has marked out for them, regardless of its challenges. Devotions includes a treasure from God’s Word, life-giving applications, guided prayers, and a challenge to reflect God’s love in a way that helps turn hearts toward Jesus.
Daily Treasure
No Longer Secret - What She Said Part 14 - Week 2 Day 6
TODAY'S TREASURE
After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, . . . Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes…
John 19:38-39
No Longer Secret
Marlys Roos, Guest Writer
Today’s Treasure
After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, . . . Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes…
John 19:38-39
Probably, the most quoted verse in Scripture (John 3:16) is associated with Nicodemus’s secret visit with Jesus (vv. 1-21). He had to meet with Jesus under cover of night, for a leader of the Pharisees could not afford to be seen having a civil, respectable conversation with the Rabbi who jeopardized their comfortable way of life.
In that discourse, Jesus explained that those who believed in Him were born of the Spirit. Nicodemus asked for clarification, and when Jesus questioned his being a teacher of Israel without understanding, Nicodemus apparently was not offended but listened as Jesus clearly claimed His divinity.
Scripture does not tell us if they met again privately, but later in Jesus’s ministry, when the Pharisees had sent officers to arrest Him, Nicodemus was present. Jesus had caused quite a stir at the Feast of Booths, and the crowd became divided—some believing He was the Messiah and others arguing the Messiah would not come from Galilee (John 7). Even the officers sent to arrest Him came back empty-handed, declaring, “No one ever spoke like this man!” (v. 46). As his fellow Pharisees raged, Nicodemus reasoned with them, saying, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” (v. 51).
As Jesus’ following grew after the raising of Lazarus (John 11), the Pharisees gave up on merely having Him arrested but plotted to kill Him. After His triumphal entry, the stage was set for the climax. Although not mentioned by name, it is likely that both Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were among those referred to in John 12:42-43: “Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in Him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.”
They were secret followers, both with reputations to maintain—until the crisis of the cross when Joseph and Nicodemus stepped out of the shadows. According to Luke’s account, Joseph, although a member of “the Council, . . . had not consented to their decision or action” (Luke 23:50-51). All four Gospels record his going to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus. John adds that Nicodemus brought embalming spices.
By touching and caring for the Lord’s crucified body, they became unclean to the Jews. They were to remain separate for seven days (Num. 19:11). By doing so, they claimed their identity as members of His body and His family (Lev. 21:1-2), leaving their fear to be counted as followers and disciples.
Neither man is mentioned again in Scripture. We can speculate they were among the 500+ (1 Cor. 15:6) who saw the risen Lord. They presumably lost their places of prominence among the Jews but secured their eternity with Christ.
LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT
Although we may not have the prestigious positions Nicodemus and Joseph had enjoyed, almost every believer will be faced by the crisis of the cross when we can no longer remain in comfort but must step from the cover of darkness to claim, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, You knew the hearts of those who heard You preach and saw the signs You did. You still know our hearts. Holy Spirit, embolden the hearts of Christ’s followers and soften the hearts of those yet to believe until that Day when “every knee should bow, . . . and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:10-11). Amen.
