SCRIPTURE: John 19:38-42
“A disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders.” (John 19:38)
Joseph Arimathea fears Jewish leaders, so he is a secret disciple.
Nicodemus is a Jewish leader, so he talks to Jesus at night (John 3:2).
I recently spoke with an Iranian Christian who told me about Muslims converting in Iran.
She said that many of them stay quiet about their conversion to Christ.
In their hearts they accept Jesus as Messiah, but they still follow the form of Islam.
Some people may challenge this – do they really trust Jesus if they’re in hiding?
Joseph and Nicodemus are a reminder to me how even secret Christians have their place.
God uses these secret Christians, and their devotion to Jesus eventually rises to the surface.
I will not judge secret Christians, I will pray for them, and entrust them to the Lord.
They can serve as mustard seed witnesses, and the Lord will use them too.
And honestly, I think it takes greater faith than mine to change from Islam to Christ!
Even if they do so secretly, for fear of the leaders.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, I pray for Your followers in Muslim countries, where they live each day under the threat of exposure and torture and death.
Observation/Application
Secret service.
A Christ follower but afraid to stand for Jesus
And yet
Mission possible.
Joseph and Nicodemus took Jesus’ body with permission and wrapped Him as was the custom of the land
and placed Him in a new tomb
as foretold
since the Sabbath was coming.
He died.
He was buried.
BUT
He arose like He said
and showed Himself to many
so I can walk with my risen Saviour this day.
What a Saviour!
Stand up, stand up for Jesus! ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss:
From vict’ry unto vict’ry, His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus! The trumpet call obey:
Forth to the mighty conflict, in this His glorious day;
Ye that are men now serve Him against unnumbered foes;
Let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus! Stand in His strength alone,
The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own;
Put on the gospel armor, and watching unto prayer,
Where calls the voice of duty, be never wanting there.
Stand up, stand up for Jesus! the strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle, the next the victor’s song;
To him that overcometh a crown of life shall be;
He with the King of glory shall reign eternally.