Mr. M Posted November 2, 2023 Group: Royal Member Followers: 8 Topic Count: 743 Topics Per Day: 1.36 Content Count: 3,893 Content Per Day: 7.12 Reputation: 1,796 Days Won: 12 Joined: 10/28/2022 Status: Offline Birthday: 02/18/1956 Share Posted November 2, 2023 (edited) John 19:38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. While Joseph kept his belief in Christ private out of fear, when the “fullness of time” came for him, he boldly stepped up and requested the Lord’s body. We could see this as an example of whom He foreknew, He also predestined. No mention of having to contend for the Lord’s body, as did the angel Michael with Satan for the body of Moses. When called upon, he served the Lord. Edited March 17 by Mr. M 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. M Posted March 17 Group: Royal Member Followers: 8 Topic Count: 743 Topics Per Day: 1.36 Content Count: 3,893 Content Per Day: 7.12 Reputation: 1,796 Days Won: 12 Joined: 10/28/2022 Status: Offline Birthday: 02/18/1956 Author Share Posted March 17 Luke 23: 50 Now behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and just man. 51 He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. In Luke we find further that Joseph himself was a council member who abstained from condemning Christ. Arimathea corresponds to Ramah in Hebrew and was the birthplace of Samuel and referred to here as “a city of the Jews”. This suggests that residing to the north in the land of Ephraim, he may have been considered an “outsider” by the Jews of Judea and Jerusalem proper. When John states that he was a disciple secretly, “because of fear of the Jews”, it was literally a type of peer pressure. Even by not consenting to the council's decision and deed concerning Christ, he would have called attention to his loyalties. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. M Posted March 17 Group: Royal Member Followers: 8 Topic Count: 743 Topics Per Day: 1.36 Content Count: 3,893 Content Per Day: 7.12 Reputation: 1,796 Days Won: 12 Joined: 10/28/2022 Status: Offline Birthday: 02/18/1956 Author Share Posted March 17 Mark 15: 42 Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went into Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. We find in Mark an acknowledgment that Joseph was taking a considerable risk to appear before Pilate, as he states that he “took courage”. Also, the early death of Christ came as a surprise to Pilate, and he first learns of his death at Joseph’s report. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. M Posted March 17 Group: Royal Member Followers: 8 Topic Count: 743 Topics Per Day: 1.36 Content Count: 3,893 Content Per Day: 7.12 Reputation: 1,796 Days Won: 12 Joined: 10/28/2022 Status: Offline Birthday: 02/18/1956 Author Share Posted March 17 (edited) Matthew 27: 57 Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph,who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. 58 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. 59 When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. Finally in Matthew, we learn two important and startling facts. First, we see that Joseph was a rich man. Could he have been the rich young ruler who approached Jesus to inquire of the means to inherit eternal life? Matthew 19: 21 Jesus said to him, If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Secondly, we find that Joseph had used that great wealth to procure a burial tomb for himself in a garden near Jerusalem. How luxurious! Little did he know at the time he was purchasing the tomb for his Savior. Isn’t that amazing! Christ buried in the place of His secret disciple. Selah As we meditate on these truths, I call to mind times in the past when I felt hopelessly locked away. Giving in to fretting, and asking, why aren’t you using me Lord? If you consider this with an honest and pure heart, you will quickly acknowledge that it is our carnal nature that craves attention and acknowledgment. Today there are many that cannot seem to get enough of the limelight and media attention (to their hurt), and wide public respect. Could this be why the saints of the Lord are called His hidden ones? Psalms 83:3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. Edited March 17 by Mr. M 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Adrien Posted March 18 Group: Advanced Member Followers: 2 Topic Count: 1 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 453 Content Per Day: 4.72 Reputation: 385 Days Won: 1 Joined: 01/22/2024 Status: Online Share Posted March 18 1 Kings 19:18 Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” I tend to believe there is always another group of believers practicing the Way somewhere that remains unknown. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwikphilly Posted March 18 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 96 Topic Count: 307 Topics Per Day: 0.08 Content Count: 18,136 Content Per Day: 4.63 Reputation: 27,817 Days Won: 327 Joined: 08/03/2013 Status: Offline Share Posted March 18 Blessings Brother What a Testimony,such an Encouraging example of Strength and Courage in Christ!Praise Jesus! It always bring to mind,for me,how easy it is to profess Christ as an American. It's easy with freedom of religion,freedom of speech and no real threat of persecution- I shout " PRAISE JESUS" anywhere,anytime in this lovely County where I live ,many many Christians But it's EASY So often friends say " Oh you are such a Christian,always boasting Christ -unashamedly " lol,really? Would I be so bold and courageous facing torture,persecution? If I live so long to see the fullness of time will I be like Peter and deny Him or more like Joseph and walk my talk? Anyway,this is my prayer since my youth- that I be Faithful,fearless and Remain a Warrior for Christ even in perilous times,when it truly counts...... stick out my neck and say " Go on & take my head-I Live for Christ " With love in Christ,Kwik 1 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D. Adrien Posted March 18 Group: Advanced Member Followers: 2 Topic Count: 1 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 453 Content Per Day: 4.72 Reputation: 385 Days Won: 1 Joined: 01/22/2024 Status: Online Share Posted March 18 39 minutes ago, kwikphilly said: Blessings Brother What a Testimony,such an Encouraging example of Strength and Courage in Christ!Praise Jesus! It always bring to mind,for me,how easy it is to profess Christ as an American. It's easy with freedom of religion,freedom of speech and no real threat of persecution- I shout " PRAISE JESUS" anywhere,anytime in this lovely County where I live ,many many Christians But it's EASY So often friends say " Oh you are such a Christian,always boasting Christ -unashamedly " lol,really? Would I be so bold and courageous facing torture,persecution? If I live so long to see the fullness of time will I be like Peter and deny Him or more like Joseph and walk my talk? Anyway,this is my prayer since my youth- that I be Faithful,fearless and Remain a Warrior for Christ even in perilous times,when it truly counts...... stick out my neck and say " Go on & take my head-I Live for Christ " With love in Christ,Kwik Hello Kwikphilly, I also give a great deal of thought as to how I would react under persecution. My wife and I were living in NYC during the covid fiasco and there was a great deal of pressure to get vaxed,(sp), but we resisted. For a period of time there was the constant blare of sirens in the streets and stories of bodies gathering unclaimed at holding facilities - even mass graves on an uninhabited island out in the bay. My point being, we held fast to our beliefs without wavering and I'd like to believe that this was a foreshadow of our behavior under more challenging conditions. May all believers walk in the peace of Jesus Christ! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Who me Posted March 18 Group: Royal Member Followers: 5 Topic Count: 17 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 3,300 Content Per Day: 1.72 Reputation: 1,685 Days Won: 0 Joined: 01/27/2019 Status: Offline Share Posted March 18 On 11/2/2023 at 10:25 PM, Mr. M said: Joseph kept his belief in Christ private out of fear We know there are many who are silent believers because of their fear of family, neighbours or the authorities. Belevers in Islamic countries, in North Korea are two that come to mind. It is a testimony to the power of the gospel that in spite of the known reaction of others people do believe. Would were as brave and as trusting if our fa ILY was seeking to kill us? 2 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray12614 Posted March 18 Group: Senior Member Followers: 4 Topic Count: 9 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 662 Content Per Day: 0.43 Reputation: 748 Days Won: 0 Joined: 02/22/2020 Status: Offline Share Posted March 18 1 hour ago, Who me said: We know there are many who are silent believers because of their fear of family, neighbours or the authorities. Belevers in Islamic countries, in North Korea are two that come to mind. It is a testimony to the power of the gospel that in spite of the known reaction of others people do believe. Would were as brave and as trusting if our fa ILY was seeking to kill us? So true. In USA most believers think that persecution means 'people are being mean-spirited saying hurtful things that make me sad' bohoo bohoo . . . etc. I am impressed by the faithfulness of believers (most in islamic countries, but some actually are in western countries) who stay with Jesus no matter what . . . even unto disowning by their families, friends, being fired from their jobs, and even unto death. May we all be 'wise as serpents and harmless as doves' in the generations we live in today. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwikphilly Posted March 18 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 96 Topic Count: 307 Topics Per Day: 0.08 Content Count: 18,136 Content Per Day: 4.63 Reputation: 27,817 Days Won: 327 Joined: 08/03/2013 Status: Offline Share Posted March 18 36 minutes ago, Ray12614 said: So true. In USA most believers think that persecution means 'people are being mean-spirited saying hurtful things that make me sad' bohoo bohoo . . . etc. I am impressed by the faithfulness of believers (most in islamic countries, but some actually are in western countries) who stay with Jesus no matter what . . . even unto disowning by their families, friends, being fired from their jobs, and even unto death. May we all be 'wise as serpents and harmless as doves' in the generations we live in today. So very true- with all this political correctness,woke nonsense and actually instilling " fear" of inconsequential gibberish it is literally creating a very thin skinned cowardice society imo ,here in the USA..... there's such a rampant spirit of pride that everyone is worried about what everyone else thinks of them and the " poor ME" mentality I hope and pray I never care about what the unbelieving world cares about and only what is pleasing and acceptable in God's Sight-no matter the reprocussions Matthew 10:28❤️ 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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