Mark.15:42 -47. “Born for such a time as this”
being born for uch a time - February 1980 the US Olympic ice hockey team slipped its foot into a glass slipper and walked away with a gold medal at Lake placid, New York. Beating The world best Russian team and then beating Finland in the final. Before the teams victory over Russia which advanced them into the finals, the coach of the US team told his players “You are born to be a player. You are meant to be here at this time, this is your moment. supplied @ bible.org
Throughout Marks gospel we have seen the life of Jesus being outlived before our eyes – he was born for such a time,and he knew it,the cross was His destiny. But its true for all those who interacted with Jesus they were born for such a time and as a result of the council’s decision and the crowds anger and Pilates apathy towards Jesus – His death takes place fulfilling Gods set purposes (Acts 2:23) – and that moment inGods providence is the blackest hour where Jesus is abandoned by God and humanity. There is one man who doesn’t walk away.
Some people give Joseph bad press but I dont think he deserves it, I think his life is to be commended and followed. This one man with Nicodemus step’s onto the scene – Many people had responded to the living Christ but Joseph would respond to the crucified Christ.
Joseph of Arimathea was born for such a time as this, when things were at their blackest and lowest point, the disciples had vanished – his family had not claimed the dead body but Joseph did. He was called by God to minister to Jesus at this particular moment in time. It spoke out to the world that I am a follower of Christ and this is what I’m prepared to do, because this is what He was prepared to do for me.
Joseph of Arimathea was a prominent member of the Sanhedrin council v42 who was against the decision to crucify Jesus (Luke 23.50) - In fact John tells us he was actually a secret disciple of Jesus (John :19:38.) Mark also infers this by saying Joseph : Mrk 15:43 ‘ was waiting for the kingdom of God.’
For this is what Jesus preached when he first entered Galilee (Mark 1:15) the kingdom of God is near. Jesus had inaugurated this kingdom; Joseph had come to believe in Jesus as Messiah, but being a prominent member of the Sanhedrin like Nicodemus wasn’t easy, in a difficult position. So until this point he had engaged in a low profile in his situation.
• There are Christians we know little about - often we can think were the only ones but it’s not the case there are believers in the most unusual positions – often keeping a low profile in places of power like parliament – around the world in Islamic countries they often have to remain secret disciples in fear of the consequences, but still witnessing.
Remenber what God said to Elijah on mount Horeb 1Kings. 19:18. I have reserved seven thousand in Israel whose knees have not bowed to Baal.
Sometimes it is necessary to keep a low profile, so that God can use you at a specific time and place to be an influence in such place.
• But often there comes a time to come out of hiding to fufill our God given purpose for such a time as this!
• In our culture today homosexuals often talk about coming out of the closet – I think many secret Christians need to come out – where they can fulfil their God given destiny.
Are you a secret disciple of Jesus? There will come a time to be counted.
Application: I wonnder are you willing now to stand up and be counted today in the house of the Lord – no secret disciples in the house of the Lord, Lets stand if you love the Lord Jesus Christ, okay - its not easy is it even in the house of the Lord imagine what it would be like in the enviroment that Joseph found himslf in.
1.Joseph was prepared to stand up for his Saviour. v43. He went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus body
We see here that Joseph is prepared to stand up and be counted - he nails his colours onto the mast - he comes out of the closet as it were - He no doubt had heard all the falsehood and lies in the council and was unable to stand up against the majority voice any longer – he couldn’t take any more of the hypocrisy – maybe the fatal decision had been the turning point for Joseph - he could no longer side silently with those who put Jesus to death - he was no longer an influence – but just was being carried along - So Joseph finally stands up and is counted as a disciple of Jesus, he had come to his own personal crossroads.
He went boldly to Pilate: there comes a time when enough is enough of error and we will have to stand up to our convictions – to face boldly the obstacles and demons in our way as Christians and to take a stand on the side of truth.
• Mayb for you it’s a situation in the home,with your husband,your wife or children,in the work place, where you finally need to be counted as a Christian? You can’t any longer go on with what’s happening and you need to take a stand against all that is wrong - it could be back handed practices in the workplace – the constant blasphemy of God’s name – the immoral lifestyles of others – the liberal mindset and practices of so called Christians, the time has come to be counted as a Christian.
Lets “Be bold; be strong, for the Lord your God is with you.”
• We do not know what the repercussions were for Joseph, but we do know he was called for such a time as he found himself in. We don’t really know what they will be for us, if we make a stand as a Christian in this world. But we do know that it is with your heart that you believe and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved as the Bible says Rom 10:11 anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.
2.Joseph was prepared to serve his Saviour. V45- 46.
What’s amazing about his ministry is that the eleven disciples had honoured and There Jesus whilst he was alive – performing miracles – profound teaching - and a huge following yet Joseph as a disciple honours and serves Jesus at the blackest hour, whilst he is a blood stained corpse.
Matt 20 : 28 the Son of man did not come to be served but to serve and give his life a ransom for many – and that we must do likewise – Jesus life was one of servant hood and he calls ours to be the same v26 - if were honest it’s very difficult in a culture that says “serve me.” But Jesus is calling us to be counter culture to serve others to follow his example.
Right belief willalways follow with right actions.
Faith in Jesus will never remain in some ivory theological tower (Sanhedrin council) - but will be outlived with right actions as James.2: 14- 17 . We see here that Joseph didn’t remain a secret disciple but when he came out he was liberated, his right belief caused him to stand up and be counted and now it was leading him to serve his Saviour – With right actions flowing out.
His caring actions : He asks for the body of Jesus – he doesn’t what to see Jesus up on the cross any longer, Jesus is dead and the Sabbath is approaching – He himself buys some burial cloth - he takes down the body from the cross – he wraps the body in the linen and he places Jesus in the tomb.
• This is what we are called to serve others -caring for others around us when things for them or for us are at the blackest point - when there is death, doubt and despair are we prepared to reach out in the way Joseph did to minister to others in their blackest hour of need.
3.Joseph was prepared to sacrifice for his Saviour. V46
Joseph was a man who was not only prepared to stand up, and serve Jesus , but to sacrifice his life for Jesus sake – Joseph was the complete opposite to Pilate who was full of apathy un prepared to put himself on the line although he knew the truth.
Joseph reached out to Jesus - because Jesus had firstly reached out to him and transformed his heart. It must have been seeing Jesus crucified that drove Joseph to sacrifice to the extent that he did. The death of Christ was his turning point.
What about YOU? What is your reaction? When YOU see the crucified Christ - who died for YOU.
a) He sacrificed his position:Joseph was a prominent leader in the Sanhedrin - No doubt he would be X-communicated as a disciple, hounded out of office as a heretic – His onetime religious friends, shun him.
At times being a Christian will mean for us a sacrifice, will involve a cost , it could involves once held friendships it could mean letting go of something in order for us to fulfil Gods purposes in our lives as Martin Luther once said, “The cross we bear always goes before the crown we wear.”
One man once said these words “I will tell you the secret: God has had all that there was of me. There have been men with greater brains than I, even with greater opportunities, but from the day I got the poor of London on my heart and caught a vision of what Jesus Christ could do with me and them, on that day I made up my mind that God should have all of William Booth there was. And if there is anything of power in the Salvation Army, it is because God has had all the adoration of my heart, all the power of my will, and all the influence of my life. - that man was William Booth.
If were honest are we putting ourselves at God’s disposal are we? - So often it’s got to be convienet and comfortable for so many of us, especially here in the U.S.A Or the UK. We are to offer our bodies minds wills to Gods purposes, anyone one who has been used by God through the centuries this is always a charateristic, always.
B) He sacrificed his substance: Normally the body of all those crucified would have just be thrown into a common grave, unmarked, uncelebrated and unrecorded but Joseph goes to Pilate to claim the body of Jesus.
Mark tells us that Joseph laid Jesus in a tomb and rolled the stone over the tomb but what is significant that Mark doesn’t mention is that the tomb belonged to Joseph (Matt 27:60) it was his tomb an unused tomb – He was prepared to give it up for Jesus – He not only sacrificed his position and standing in society but he gave of his substance in laying Jesus in his own tomb.
• When we are called into a relationship with Jesus there will be things that God will want you to sacrifice to him in your life - could involve your finances – talents – pleasures - habits – time - but most of all its your whole life is to be offered as living sacrifices holy and pleasing to God ROM.12:1-2.
c) the sacrifice of life.
No greater love has anyone than this, that a man should lay down his life for his friends.Joseph here has really put himself on the line here.....
Open doors reports that in Oct 11 2006 Michael Dhabi an evangelist to Muslims in Ethiopia was martyred for his faith. Muslim extremists tried to force Michael to convert to Islam – he refused they repeatedly attacked him with a machete – throughout the attack Michael continued to proclaim Christ as Lord – and died while praying for his family.
Joseph sacrificed himself: He gave himself to Christ at this point –. Willing to identify himself as a disciple – from the moment he saw the crucified Christ and what He was willing to do for him - what could he do for the Christ. Joseph had enough he came out and served the purposes of God under the guiding hand of God – He was born for such a time as this.........
In his sacrifice Joseph fulfilled scripture: orchestrated by the hand of God. Isaiah 53:9 Jesus was put in a rich man’s tomb. Joseph was raised up for such a time as he found himself in to stand up and be counted, at that particular juncture in history: Have you a sense of purpose in your life - or do you feel like a mouse going round in a wheel – each day just blends into the next – with little meaning – then look at the sacrifice of Christ.
• As Christians we can forget our God given purpose we can drift along in life, living for ourselves - God calls us to live for him , to stand up for our Saviour in a world which desires to bring him down, to serve others, at times at their blackest moments and to sacrifice our lives for our Saviour. We also are born for such a time as this!
