From Secrecy to Service
From Secrecy to Service
Text: John 19:38–42
The gospel does not end at the cross. While the crucifixion stands as the great display of sacrifice and the resurrection shines as the triumph of victory, the burial of Jesus Christ occupies a sacred and often overlooked space between the two. It is here, in the stillness after suffering and before glory, that faith is tested, revealed, and matured. John records that the burial of Jesus was not carried out by enemies or strangers, but by two men who had once followed quietly and cautiously. Their obedience in this moment speaks volumes to every believer who has ever struggled between fear and faith.
Joseph of Arimathaea enters the narrative as a man of stature and influence. He was wealthy, honorable, and respected among the Jews. He served as a counsellor and possessed social standing that afforded him both comfort and security. Yet scripture tells us that he was a disciple of Jesus secretly, for fear of the Jews. His faith was real, but restrained. His belief was sincere, but hidden. That secrecy would be tested when Christ died.
The moment Jesus breathed his last, Joseph’s faith could no longer remain private. He went boldly unto Pilate, requesting the body of Jesus. This was no small act. To identify with a crucified man was to risk reputation, position, and possibly life itself. Yet Joseph begged, besought, and craved the body of Jesus. The man who once remained silent now stepped forward publicly. Faith that had once stayed in the shadows moved into the light of costly obedience.
Nicodemus stands beside Joseph as a companion in this sacred task. Earlier in the Gospel, he is introduced as a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night, cautious and curious, seeking answers while avoiding exposure. He understood that the kingdom of God was spiritual and internal, not visible or political. Yet like Joseph, his faith had not yet found its voice.
At the burial, Nicodemus no longer arrives in secrecy. He comes openly, bringing a great weight of myrrh and aloes. The man who once asked questions now offers devotion. Together, Joseph and Nicodemus take the body of Jesus, wrap it in linen, anoint it with spices, and lay it in a new tomb. What the other Gospel writers attribute largely to Joseph, John clarifies was a shared work. Faith, once solitary and silent, becomes united and visible.
These men may not have fully understood the resurrection. Scripture does not tell us whether they expected the tomb to be empty in three days. Yet their actions reveal something deeper. They were waiting for the kingdom of God, a kingdom not observed with the eyes but realized within the heart. That kingdom would only come through victory over death. Though their understanding may have been incomplete, their devotion was genuine.
The burial of Jesus teaches that the past does not determine the future. Both Joseph and Nicodemus were once secret disciples, cautious believers, spiritual observers rather than public witnesses. Yet when the moment demanded courage, they responded with action. Faith matured under pressure. Love overcame fear. Loyalty replaced hesitation.
Their care for the body of Jesus also points forward to resurrection life. They prepared and preserved his body with reverence. They treated it with dignity, not neglect. There was no indifference in their service. They did not want the body of Christ to be dishonored or corrupted. In doing so, they demonstrated faith that anticipated life beyond the grave. What they laid in the tomb would not remain there.
This moment speaks directly to the church today. The body of Christ still requires faithful care. Believers are called not merely to admire Christ from a distance but to identify with him openly. The challenge is not whether one believes, but whether that belief is willing to be seen. God still seeks disciples who will move from secrecy to service, from quiet agreement to visible devotion.
The church needs Christians who are willing to be bold, who will beg, crave, and care for the body of Christ with loyalty and love. The testimony of the church should be a sweet savour, not a stench. That requires sacrifice, surrender, submission, and sometimes suffering. It requires staying when it would be easier to walk away, searching and seeking truth, studying the word, offering supplications, stirring one another to faithfulness, and strengthening the body until the day of resurrection.
The burial of Jesus reminds us that devotion is often proven in the quiet moments when hope seems dim and victory feels distant. Yet it is in those moments that faith is refined and service is revealed. Resurrection power always follows faithful obedience.
Text: John 19:38–42
The gospel does not end at the cross. While the crucifixion stands as the great display of sacrifice and the resurrection shines as the triumph of victory, the burial of Jesus Christ occupies a sacred and often overlooked space between the two. It is here, in the stillness after suffering and before glory, that faith is tested, revealed, and matured. John records that the burial of Jesus was not carried out by enemies or strangers, but by two men who had once followed quietly and cautiously. Their obedience in this moment speaks volumes to every believer who has ever struggled between fear and faith.
Joseph of Arimathaea enters the narrative as a man of stature and influence. He was wealthy, honorable, and respected among the Jews. He served as a counsellor and possessed social standing that afforded him both comfort and security. Yet scripture tells us that he was a disciple of Jesus secretly, for fear of the Jews. His faith was real, but restrained. His belief was sincere, but hidden. That secrecy would be tested when Christ died.
The moment Jesus breathed his last, Joseph’s faith could no longer remain private. He went boldly unto Pilate, requesting the body of Jesus. This was no small act. To identify with a crucified man was to risk reputation, position, and possibly life itself. Yet Joseph begged, besought, and craved the body of Jesus. The man who once remained silent now stepped forward publicly. Faith that had once stayed in the shadows moved into the light of costly obedience.
Nicodemus stands beside Joseph as a companion in this sacred task. Earlier in the Gospel, he is introduced as a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night, cautious and curious, seeking answers while avoiding exposure. He understood that the kingdom of God was spiritual and internal, not visible or political. Yet like Joseph, his faith had not yet found its voice.
At the burial, Nicodemus no longer arrives in secrecy. He comes openly, bringing a great weight of myrrh and aloes. The man who once asked questions now offers devotion. Together, Joseph and Nicodemus take the body of Jesus, wrap it in linen, anoint it with spices, and lay it in a new tomb. What the other Gospel writers attribute largely to Joseph, John clarifies was a shared work. Faith, once solitary and silent, becomes united and visible.
These men may not have fully understood the resurrection. Scripture does not tell us whether they expected the tomb to be empty in three days. Yet their actions reveal something deeper. They were waiting for the kingdom of God, a kingdom not observed with the eyes but realized within the heart. That kingdom would only come through victory over death. Though their understanding may have been incomplete, their devotion was genuine.
The burial of Jesus teaches that the past does not determine the future. Both Joseph and Nicodemus were once secret disciples, cautious believers, spiritual observers rather than public witnesses. Yet when the moment demanded courage, they responded with action. Faith matured under pressure. Love overcame fear. Loyalty replaced hesitation.
Their care for the body of Jesus also points forward to resurrection life. They prepared and preserved his body with reverence. They treated it with dignity, not neglect. There was no indifference in their service. They did not want the body of Christ to be dishonored or corrupted. In doing so, they demonstrated faith that anticipated life beyond the grave. What they laid in the tomb would not remain there.
This moment speaks directly to the church today. The body of Christ still requires faithful care. Believers are called not merely to admire Christ from a distance but to identify with him openly. The challenge is not whether one believes, but whether that belief is willing to be seen. God still seeks disciples who will move from secrecy to service, from quiet agreement to visible devotion.
The church needs Christians who are willing to be bold, who will beg, crave, and care for the body of Christ with loyalty and love. The testimony of the church should be a sweet savour, not a stench. That requires sacrifice, surrender, submission, and sometimes suffering. It requires staying when it would be easier to walk away, searching and seeking truth, studying the word, offering supplications, stirring one another to faithfulness, and strengthening the body until the day of resurrection.
The burial of Jesus reminds us that devotion is often proven in the quiet moments when hope seems dim and victory feels distant. Yet it is in those moments that faith is refined and service is revealed. Resurrection power always follows faithful obedience.
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