Joseph of Arimathea. A man whose name is quickly recognized, although relatively few words in Scripture tell his story. And really, his story is interwoven with the story of Jesus. Little else is known about this Joseph, but what he did was foretold by Isaiah, and his deed honored the Christ who was scorned and ridiculed, beaten and crucified. Jesus died the death of a criminal, and yet He had done no wrong. The very people from whose lineage He was birthed refused to believe Him, but Joseph chose differently. Joseph believed and stood against the respected religious leaders who falsely accused Jesus and cried out to have Him silenced. Joseph was unable to stop the torrent that was unleashed, but he was able to give a measure of dignity as the body of God’s Son was placed in a human grave. The grave belonged to Joseph, and Joseph assumed the responsibility of removing Christ’s body from the cross, wrapping it, and carefully laying it in the tomb. His act was one of courage, a response to God’s leading, a risk of both his reputation and his life.
Courage is born in the destitution of need. Need demands a response, and courage responds. The need may be imposed on us, or the need could be chosen. Joseph of Arimathea responded to a need that was chosen. Other needs may be woven into the fabric of our lives, and although we did nothing to choose the need, we can still choose how we will respond. Grief is a need woven into the life of a survivor and the need was not chosen, but with courage, we choose how we will respond. Courage knows the response will be hard, difficult, threatening, or risky, but courage is also aware of God’s way and God’s will, and courage chooses to do what needs to be done. Courage reaches out to God in the darkness. Courage believes what is true and snuffs out the lies. Courage is willing to be different. It walks with integrity and not retaliation. It speaks when it is easier to be silent, but it speaks without pride or arrogance. It is more concerned about others than about self. Heroes that reach out to another, defying the odds, are not foolish, but courageous. Courage accomplishes God’s will in God’s way. Courage for the believer though doesn’t come from self. It is the outworking of God’s grace in our lives.
Courage is born in the destitution of need, but the seeds of courage are planted long before the need makes itself known. The seeds of courage focus on God. They know something about nothingness and God-dependence. The seeds of courage have been exposed to the promises of God, His truth, and His principles. They have made a practice of caring for and loving other people. They recognize what has true value, what has eternal value, and those are the things the seeds of courage reach for even when life is very ordinary and mundane, but when the need comes, the seeds of courage bring the fruit that has been nurtured. What is God asking me to respond to? How will I choose to respond?
– Bev
(Related Bible reading: Luke 23:50-54)
