“The Secret Disciple”

Have you ever wondered what a secret disciple looks, thinks, and acts like? Meet such a man and his friend who “because of the fear of the Jews” had a choice: will they remain a secret disciple or one that will stand out from the shadows and reveal their heart and beliefs.

Put yourself into the place of this man, a member of the elite of the elite, schooled in the Torah, a wealthy landowner but an outsider in Jerusalem,  one who  was earnestly looking for the kingdom of God. Yet for all of that he was a secret disciple due to his fear of the leaders in the Sanhedrin (see John 12: 42-43) and in particular Caiaphas. In the heat of the moment he and his friend refused to consent to the death sentence that Caiaphas had sought. This was his first but not the last time he will stand for his convictions because it was just not the right thing to do. Why? Because in his heart he just “knew” that he “knew” that this man was indeed the Son of God. Perhaps it was when Jesus was asked that very question that his heart was quickened.  As he sat and listened to the false witnesses he cringed and in his heart he rebelled but the 68 others who joined Caiaphas were stronger than the voice of himself and his friend. But…

After the crucifixion this man gathered courage and boldly went to the Roman Governor and begged that he might have the body of this Jesus. The Romans had a rule that these that were crucified were to be left to the birds, no family burials, no burials in the pauper’s grave. Perhaps Pilate saw in the eyes of this man a heart that he had not seen in the eyes of the other religious leaders. He saw compassion and because he had been manipulated by Caiaphas and the others he chose to see a way to humiliate them as they had done to him. Thus Pilate, seeking corroboration from the Centurion on duty, was once again amazed that death had come so quickly and gave the order to release the body to this disciple. And where were the followers of this Messiah? They, unlike this man, were fearfully secluded themselves. They the public followers now became the secret followers. They did not go and seek the body of Jesus so that the words of the prophet Isaiah may be fulfilled: 53:9 “They intended to bury him with criminals, but he ended up in a rich man’s tomb,”

And so this secret disciple and his friend purchased linen and 75 pounds of spices and wrapped the body and lovingly placed it in the tomb. You won’t read about his deed in the Jerusalem Times and in fact Caiaphas was probably so incensed at this that he put aside his Sabbath rules and sought that this the tomb be sealed with the Roman seal. We never hear of this man or his friend from this point on but their legacy remains strong and firm. Who are these men we read about in Mark 15 and 16?  Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. 

What can we learn from this? We will find secret disciples in the most unlikely places, God can and will use them to fulfill His will and scripture that the others may be without excuse when they meet God. Sometimes they are those who are surrounded by mystery as Joseph of Arimathea was. Check a map. Where is Arimathea? Not to be found. Sometimes they, like us, progress one step at a time to come to the point that there is no turning back. Joseph and Nicodemus lived out the verse of being unashamed when the right time came. Secret disciples often have much to lose yet they choose to step out of the shadows into the light for others to see their heart. Their legacy shows that even in the worst of times they are the ones that will rise up and call evil evil not by words but by actions. 

Are you a secret disciple? Are you fearful of those who are in authority over you? Take heart from these two men. If they could come and talk to you they would say that being a secret disciple is not what Jesus would want ...Instead they would give you this verse out of 2Tim to encourage you: "1:7 For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control." Go forth and be used of the Lord this day. 

Jesus - Pilate- The Crucifixion

“The Characters of the Crucifixion”

Three recent reads have given much to reflect upon regarding the passage under our discussion for today. The book authored by Robert Wilkerson indulges the reader to walk with him and see the characters of this chapter through the eyes of our “now.” Through the looking glass of words we are able to stand in the crowd and experience the trials of Jesus. But nothing is more gripping than seeking how to understand the rejection by two prominent churches of an artist’s rendition of Jesus as being homeless resting only with a simple garment upon a park bench while the ravages of time and weather take their toll. Seeing this and reading of His rejection makes this chapter ever more poignant.

One author observes that the response we have to God and His Word reveals our lives now as well as our destiny for all of eternity. Take Pilate for an example. He asked the question that we all need to ask of ourselves: “Then what do you want me to do with the one you call king of the Jews?” Make the question fit yourself. What should I/you do with the one we call the King of the Jews? Wilkerson writes: We only have these choices: accept or reject. Pilate had the same choices. He had heard his wife say “Have nothing to do with this innocent man.” His heart and mind recoiled at the religious leaders who had brought Jesus to him out of envy. He was amazed when Jesus did not respond as the religious leaders had painted him and he had questioned him. He was even more astonished when this popular teacher who had ridden into Jerusalem on a docile animal with throngs surrounding him now stood before him without a single supporter. Thinking that many would rally to his side Pilate is placed in the position of deciding what to do when he asked “What wrong has he done?” and heard instead: “we have no king but Caesar.” Jesus had told the religious leaders that they were murderers and of their father the devil. Now they will fulfill these words and choose a murderer to join them while casting their King to remain as this statue: alone, homeless and without support.

Matthew records that Pilate washed his hands of the affair seeking his own innocence—he said it but the stain remained upon his heart and hands. Mark depicts Pilate as reluctant to execute Jesus. Neither Pilate nor Herod could find any evidence to his being one calling for treason against Rome. John records this fact: Pilate announces that he finds no guilt in Jesus.  Is Pilate innocent or guilty? Is Pilate merely a figure in a historical record or is he a picture of who we all are when faced with the King of Kings? The Word is clear: we all like Pilate are guilty before God and in need of God’s grace.

One wonders how Pilate handled his conscience when the earth was cloaked in darkness for 3 full hours after his orders to crucify Jesus. In the darkness did he realize his error, did he ever repent? Did he ever allow his sin to be subdued and forgiven by the man called the King of the Jews?  Eusebius noted that Pilate committed suicide …but no record has ever been found. Perhaps that is best…that we not know his true end.  He is just one very sad and tragic character. He had the opportunity to bow the knee to Jesus who was the King of the Jews but chose instead to wash his hands seeking absolution. There is only one way to resolve the issue of “what shall I do with Jesus?” and that is to accept His free offer of salvation.

Our question for today is: “Then what do you want me to do with the one you call king of the Jews?” Have you accepted Him?

Picture courtesy of Susan Thistlewaite’s blog post “No Place to lay his head”: Jesus the Homeless Statue rejected.”