The secret disciples

When Jesus died, it would have been more than mere mortals could wrap their minds around. Men and women from all walks of life had heard Him. They believed Him and in Him. They felt His love, saw it in action. He changed their lives, and they followed Him. In John 8:12, He told them, “I am the light of the world.” They soaked up that light.

Eleven chapters later in the book of John, that Light was snuffed out right before their very eyes. The disappointment, disbelief, and devastation would have been difficult to put into words.

In the Resurrection story, I love pondering Mary Magdalene at the tomb and the two guys on the road to Emmaus, but this year, a couple of other men have occupied my thoughts.

After Jesus died on the cross, His body had to be dealt with. John 19:38-41 tells what happened next. Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate, the governor, to ask for the body of Jesus. Previously unknown, this Joseph was a secret disciple of Jesus because he was fearful of the Jewish leaders. We don’t know Joseph’s whole story, but we know something changed when Jesus was crucified. Asking for Jesus’ body was a bold and public statement.

With Pilate’s permission, Joseph went and took the body away. It was not a one-man job. A Pharisee and religious leader named Nicodemus assisted him.

You may remember Nicodemus. He had previously visited Jesus at night with questions (John 3). Most Pharisees of the day were extremely jealous of Jesus. Nic, who would have been very educated and steeped in their religious rituals and rules, was clearly searching for the real truth. It seems he went to Jesus by night so he would not be seen by his peers. In their nighttime conversation, Jesus shared the crucial verse John 3:16, yet Nic walked away. We didn’t hear any more about him.

How did Joseph and Nicodemus do it? My mind spins and heart hurts at the thought. The broken body of our Savior – bloody and beaten, lashed and torn, spit upon and pierced – was removed from the cross. Nails were pulled from His kind hands and travel-worn feet.

Nicodemus brought with him 75 pounds of myrrh and aloe to prepare Jesus’ body for burial.

Together, they wrapped the massacred body of Jesus, covered it with spices, and placed it in the tomb Joseph had purchased (Matthew 27:60).

When I think of Joseph and Nicodemus, my heart aches for them. What emotions were they experiencing? Did they weep as they worked? Their religious positions and fear had held them back from publicly following Christ. Did they feel they were too late?

The men finished their service and went away. They thought it was over, but God was just getting started. Jesus hadn’t said “I am finished,” He said, “It is finished.”

I picture their faces when they heard the news of Jesus’ resurrection. They had carried Him to the tomb! How could it be?

First Corinthians 15:5–6 reports that Jesus was seen by more than 500 people after He rose from the dead. I can imagine Him seeking out Joseph and Nicodemus, secret disciples no more, to thank them for their care of His crucified body.

If you have a relationship with Jesus, do others know it? Today is a good day to make it known. To make Him known. As Joseph and Nicodemus carried Jesus’ broken body to the tomb, we are now called to carry the risen Savior to the whole world.

Some secrets are to be kept to yourself. Jesus is not one of them.

Dawn Reed is a pastor’s wife, newspaper columnist, and the author of Weiner Stew: Inspiring Stories from Appalachia. Reach her at preacherswife7@yahoo.com.