WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.400 Please do open up your Bibles again to Mark chapter 15. We'll be looking at verses 42 to 47. That's on page 853. 00:00:11.500 --> 00:00:15.099 You might remember I preached on the burial of Christ a few months ago. 00:00:15.880 --> 00:00:21.780 Well, I want us to go back to it today because there is one character that we didn't really get to. 00:00:22.679 --> 00:00:27.500 But he's a character that is a really helpful picture of the Christian life. 00:00:27.500 --> 00:00:31.420 And he's actually quite key to the burial of Christ. 00:00:32.299 --> 00:00:36.560 Today, I want us to look at the character of Joseph of Arimathea. 00:00:37.780 --> 00:00:43.140 And he's a really interesting character because this is the only time we hear of him. 00:00:43.899 --> 00:00:49.379 He's mentioned in all of the Gospels, but only for this moment, the burial of Christ. 00:00:50.240 --> 00:00:51.760 We don't know much about him. 00:00:51.759 --> 00:00:57.920 We know he's from Arimathea, a town likely 20 miles north of Jerusalem. 00:00:58.759 --> 00:01:02.399 He's high up in the Jewish council, the religious leadership. 00:01:03.239 --> 00:01:06.659 But we are kind of just thrown into his life in this moment. 00:01:08.060 --> 00:01:14.780 Yet he appears at such a precious and important moment of salvation. 00:01:14.780 --> 00:01:20.400 And he's given such time and detail in this passage, isn't he? 00:01:21.200 --> 00:01:28.060 We see who he is, what he believed about the kingdom, his character, what he did for Jesus, 00:01:28.700 --> 00:01:31.620 all down to the little details of the burial. 00:01:33.420 --> 00:01:38.659 But there's a reason this man is given such attention and such an important moment here. 00:01:38.659 --> 00:01:47.359 It is because Joseph of Arimathea is the shining example of how to respond to the death of Christ. 00:01:48.679 --> 00:01:55.759 Because actually, this is the first response to Jesus' death that we see in real detail in the Bible. 00:01:57.060 --> 00:01:58.859 And do you see how this man is described? 00:01:59.159 --> 00:02:04.039 Verse 43, Joseph of Arimathea is looking for the kingdom of God. 00:02:05.099 --> 00:02:06.859 He's a follower of Jesus. 00:02:06.859 --> 00:02:10.620 Matthew's gospel calls him a disciple of Jesus. 00:02:11.740 --> 00:02:17.259 This is a man not outside of the kingdom, but looking for the kingdom and in it. 00:02:18.360 --> 00:02:23.919 You could say this is the very first account of a Christian response to the cross. 00:02:25.219 --> 00:02:31.599 And he's given such attention because we see in this man what it means to be a disciple. 00:02:32.460 --> 00:02:35.300 What it means to be a follower of Jesus. 00:02:35.300 --> 00:02:42.360 And it all comes down to how we respond to the death of Jesus. 00:02:43.920 --> 00:02:49.380 And so if you are here today and all of this is new to you, this Christianity stuff, it's all new to you. 00:02:49.920 --> 00:02:53.700 This is showing us the very heart of what it means to be a Christian. 00:02:53.699 --> 00:02:59.519 And in particular, how to respond to this moment of Jesus' death. 00:02:59.520 --> 00:03:15.879 And for those of us for whom this isn't necessarily new, I want us to use this moment to readjust the lens of our lives and to bring into focus what really matters in our lives. 00:03:15.879 --> 00:03:19.500 And so there are two things I want us to see today. 00:03:19.840 --> 00:03:21.560 Two things about following Jesus. 00:03:22.039 --> 00:03:27.359 I want us to see following Jesus means being devoted to his death. 00:03:28.019 --> 00:03:31.259 And I want to see following Jesus takes courage. 00:03:32.199 --> 00:03:33.819 So those two things I want us to see. 00:03:33.900 --> 00:03:38.400 But first, following Jesus means being devoted to his death. 00:03:38.400 --> 00:03:41.620 Let's just remember where we are. 00:03:42.939 --> 00:03:44.520 We're just outside Jerusalem. 00:03:46.099 --> 00:03:47.800 Jesus hangs on the cross. 00:03:49.040 --> 00:03:52.319 Darkness has just covered the land, but then it passed. 00:03:53.219 --> 00:03:54.599 And around 3 p.m. 00:03:55.120 --> 00:03:56.900 Jesus took his last breath. 00:03:57.599 --> 00:03:58.680 And then he died. 00:03:58.680 --> 00:04:03.980 But it has been maybe a few hours since that moment. 00:04:04.379 --> 00:04:05.020 Verse 42. 00:04:05.900 --> 00:04:07.180 Evening was approaching. 00:04:08.340 --> 00:04:12.599 And so Jesus has been hanging there motionless for a while now. 00:04:13.819 --> 00:04:17.720 And usually criminals were just left to hang there indefinitely. 00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:20.379 Just so the birds could get at them and rot away. 00:04:21.300 --> 00:04:23.660 There was no Roman ceremony for the crucified. 00:04:24.960 --> 00:04:27.720 But Jewish law was different. 00:04:27.720 --> 00:04:33.380 Jewish law says that you can't leave a crucified body hanging there. 00:04:34.120 --> 00:04:36.720 It needs to be buried the same day. 00:04:36.840 --> 00:04:39.000 Otherwise it would defile the land. 00:04:40.100 --> 00:04:43.820 Which is when we meet Joseph of Arimathea. 00:04:44.800 --> 00:04:46.140 He knows Jesus. 00:04:47.180 --> 00:04:48.360 He's been following him. 00:04:49.060 --> 00:04:49.800 Listening to him. 00:04:50.980 --> 00:04:55.320 And Joseph knows he can't just leave Jesus hanging there. 00:04:55.319 --> 00:04:57.939 He needs to be taken down. 00:04:58.719 --> 00:05:00.099 He needs to be buried. 00:05:01.399 --> 00:05:03.279 But there's no one around to do it. 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:06.240 All Jesus' friends have left him. 00:05:06.959 --> 00:05:10.079 No one dares associate with a convicted criminal. 00:05:11.319 --> 00:05:15.339 But Joseph of Arimathea is the one man who does something. 00:05:15.339 --> 00:05:17.379 Verse 43. 00:05:18.379 --> 00:05:22.919 He took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 00:05:22.920 --> 00:05:26.740 Now you couldn't just take down the body. 00:05:27.439 --> 00:05:29.300 You couldn't just go up to the cross and do it yourself. 00:05:29.420 --> 00:05:29.500 No. 00:05:29.580 --> 00:05:32.920 You had to ask the Roman authorities for permission to do it. 00:05:34.240 --> 00:05:41.180 And Pilate, when Joseph goes up to Pilate, the governor, Pilate's surprised that Jesus has died so quickly. 00:05:42.139 --> 00:05:43.080 Usually it takes longer. 00:05:43.259 --> 00:05:45.480 Crucifixion could sometimes last for days. 00:05:45.480 --> 00:05:50.640 And so Pilate gets a soldier to go and confirm. 00:05:51.400 --> 00:05:55.020 And the soldier comes back and says, yes, Jesus really is dead. 00:05:56.379 --> 00:05:57.400 And so verse 45. 00:05:58.060 --> 00:06:00.379 He gives permission to Joseph. 00:06:01.879 --> 00:06:03.300 And verse 46. 00:06:03.300 --> 00:06:07.699 We see that Joseph has been to the shops, hasn't he? 00:06:08.759 --> 00:06:12.240 He's bought some linen cloth just for Jesus. 00:06:13.960 --> 00:06:15.500 Wrapping a body in linen cloth. 00:06:15.580 --> 00:06:17.220 That was the burial custom of the day. 00:06:18.120 --> 00:06:19.439 He wants to do things properly. 00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:22.759 This is how you honor the dead. 00:06:24.360 --> 00:06:27.980 And he takes Jesus down from the cross. 00:06:27.980 --> 00:06:32.360 He wraps Jesus' body in that cloth. 00:06:33.780 --> 00:06:35.939 The big question is, well, where can he bury him now? 00:06:37.000 --> 00:06:38.460 Well, he gets a tomb for Jesus. 00:06:39.920 --> 00:06:46.480 And these were proper tombs carved out of a huge rock face with a small entrance near the floor. 00:06:46.540 --> 00:06:48.759 And you could stoop into that entrance. 00:06:49.280 --> 00:06:56.759 And it would open up and you would see shelves usually carved out in the rock along the wall where the bodies would be laid. 00:06:56.759 --> 00:07:00.379 And these tombs, they weren't free. 00:07:01.399 --> 00:07:02.339 It was property. 00:07:02.620 --> 00:07:03.620 Property to own. 00:07:04.259 --> 00:07:05.480 You had to buy them. 00:07:06.819 --> 00:07:10.439 And so remarkably, Joseph gets one for Jesus. 00:07:11.779 --> 00:07:17.120 In fact, we read in Matthew's Gospel, it turns out to be Joseph's own tomb. 00:07:17.879 --> 00:07:20.000 That he would have been buried in when he died. 00:07:21.500 --> 00:07:24.240 He owned it, yet he gives it up for Jesus. 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:35.800 And so he carries Jesus' body, goes to the tomb, places Jesus in it, seals the tomb with a big boulder over the door. 00:07:36.460 --> 00:07:38.660 And Jesus is buried before nightfall. 00:07:38.660 --> 00:07:43.360 And we never hear of Joseph of Arimathea again. 00:07:44.580 --> 00:07:45.980 Yet here he is. 00:07:47.020 --> 00:07:50.900 With all these details and all this space on the page. 00:07:50.899 --> 00:08:01.919 And it is because all these details, in all of these details, we are seeing something really striking about his response to Jesus. 00:08:02.979 --> 00:08:09.159 In all of this, we see a man utterly devoted to the crucified Jesus. 00:08:09.160 --> 00:08:13.460 He sees his Savior hanging there. 00:08:13.860 --> 00:08:17.160 And he knows he can't just stand back and do nothing. 00:08:17.800 --> 00:08:20.200 He knows he must honor Jesus. 00:08:20.360 --> 00:08:23.960 He knows this man deserves the right burial. 00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:26.780 This man deserves the right treatment. 00:08:26.779 --> 00:08:34.159 You just see the astonishing respect and care Joseph has for Jesus. 00:08:35.439 --> 00:08:38.339 He could have just thought, well, no, this is someone else's problem. 00:08:39.339 --> 00:08:40.759 There are plenty of other disciples. 00:08:41.500 --> 00:08:42.539 Let them do it. 00:08:42.839 --> 00:08:43.159 No. 00:08:44.379 --> 00:08:47.579 He goes out of his way to go to speak to Pilate. 00:08:47.580 --> 00:08:57.220 He could have just taken the body down, buried Jesus naked, but he goes to the shops to go and buy linen. 00:08:58.340 --> 00:09:02.240 He could have found any makeshift burial site, maybe a hole in the ground. 00:09:03.300 --> 00:09:05.960 But no, he gives up his own tomb. 00:09:07.040 --> 00:09:07.600 Why? 00:09:09.040 --> 00:09:11.220 Because he knows Jesus is worth it. 00:09:11.220 --> 00:09:18.820 He knows this crucified man deserves all the respect and the care that he can give. 00:09:20.379 --> 00:09:22.379 And we do that with our loved ones, don't we? 00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:26.660 It matters where they are buried, how they are buried. 00:09:27.660 --> 00:09:30.580 We take time to choose the right headstone. 00:09:31.440 --> 00:09:34.240 We take time to think where they are going to be buried. 00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:39.440 We take time to think about the words that are going to be written on that headstone. 00:09:41.220 --> 00:09:47.220 Well, we see here Joseph's love for Jesus, his utter devotion. 00:09:49.300 --> 00:09:53.399 And we see just how he identifies with Jesus here. 00:09:54.779 --> 00:09:55.360 Think about it. 00:09:55.620 --> 00:09:57.980 All of Jesus' disciples ran away. 00:09:59.300 --> 00:10:01.899 They denied him, betrayed him. 00:10:01.899 --> 00:10:07.299 But Joseph steps up in front of the Romans and in front of the Jews. 00:10:08.459 --> 00:10:14.500 And with these acts of devotion, he is showing this crucified man, I'm with him. 00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:18.159 And I will do everything for this man. 00:10:18.159 --> 00:10:25.659 Joseph, he really is a shining example of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. 00:10:25.779 --> 00:10:29.980 What it means to follow Jesus and to be a part of the kingdom of God. 00:10:31.459 --> 00:10:38.860 And it all comes down to, it all comes down to how we respond to this very same death. 00:10:38.860 --> 00:10:43.539 How we respond to the crucified saviour. 00:10:44.940 --> 00:10:50.960 Will we just stand back and ignore him and think, well, this is just for someone else to deal with. 00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:55.879 This is just the religious type or the spiritual type or those who have grown up in a Christian family. 00:10:56.139 --> 00:10:57.759 Well, it's for them to deal with. 00:10:57.860 --> 00:10:59.600 They can deal with Jesus and the cross. 00:10:59.600 --> 00:11:07.220 Or, like Joseph of Arimathea, we can devote ourselves to this crucified man. 00:11:08.580 --> 00:11:13.680 This first response, it is written down for us because this is the right response. 00:11:15.540 --> 00:11:19.759 And this is what separates the disciple from the non-disciple. 00:11:20.580 --> 00:11:24.560 This is what separates the kingdom of God from this world. 00:11:25.560 --> 00:11:29.360 It is whether or not you identify with this crucified man. 00:11:29.600 --> 00:11:32.700 Because that is the nature of faith. 00:11:33.700 --> 00:11:35.980 It is trust in the Lord Jesus. 00:11:36.120 --> 00:11:40.220 But specifically, it is trust in the crucified Lord Jesus. 00:11:41.320 --> 00:11:45.340 Not only that he is Lord, but he is the Lord that died for sinners. 00:11:46.560 --> 00:11:52.700 And just like Joseph of Arimathea, faith is to recognise that this is no mere death. 00:11:53.600 --> 00:11:56.340 This is my crucified saviour. 00:11:57.060 --> 00:11:58.620 And he deserves the honour. 00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:02.320 I can't ignore this crucified man. 00:12:02.700 --> 00:12:05.840 Because this is where forgiveness is found. 00:12:07.800 --> 00:12:12.480 And so, to follow Jesus, it means to be devoted to his death. 00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:21.580 And when you are, you identify with Jesus so much that this death becomes yours. 00:12:22.680 --> 00:12:23.779 You own it. 00:12:25.379 --> 00:12:30.420 Joseph of Arimathea, he may not have understood this at the time, 00:12:30.500 --> 00:12:33.960 but as he was carrying Jesus down from that cross, 00:12:33.960 --> 00:12:38.420 Joseph was carrying the end of his own sins. 00:12:38.420 --> 00:12:45.920 He was holding the satisfaction of divine justice in his hands. 00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:54.939 As he placed that body in the tomb, his own guilt was going down with Jesus into that tomb. 00:12:54.940 --> 00:13:01.220 To be devoted to this death means this death belongs to you. 00:13:01.220 --> 00:13:05.500 And that's what we enjoy in the Lord's Supper, isn't it? 00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:11.340 When we receive this bread and wine by faith, we devote ourselves to his death. 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:14.639 And in this meal, the Lord Jesus tells us, 00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:16.679 my death is now yours. 00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:23.000 As this bread and wine becomes a part of you, so now my death is a part of you. 00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:31.320 And so, for us here today, we are still in a very similar position to Joseph of Arimathea. 00:13:32.679 --> 00:13:35.440 There is a crucified saviour before us. 00:13:36.559 --> 00:13:37.600 Yes, he is now risen. 00:13:37.899 --> 00:13:39.940 The defining question of your life. 00:13:41.419 --> 00:13:43.580 Because this is what it means to follow Jesus. 00:13:43.740 --> 00:13:48.240 It's not about me and how good I am and what I can offer Jesus. 00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:52.960 No, it is about this man and this death and what he can offer you. 00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:56.120 And it will change your life. 00:13:57.100 --> 00:13:59.539 It changes Joseph's life, doesn't it? 00:14:00.519 --> 00:14:03.899 What shaped all of his actions in this passage? 00:14:04.740 --> 00:14:08.379 What shaped the course of his day on this Good Friday? 00:14:09.299 --> 00:14:14.399 It was having the crucified Lord at the focal point of his vision. 00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:22.220 Christ was at the centre and everything else in his life just started to be pulled in that direction. 00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:25.959 His choice to go to the shops to buy that linen. 00:14:27.139 --> 00:14:29.879 The decision to risk speaking to Pilate. 00:14:30.959 --> 00:14:33.679 Giving up his tomb, giving up his time, his efforts. 00:14:34.519 --> 00:14:38.879 Devotion to this death shaped his life in all the right ways. 00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:45.439 And in the Christian life, it's when we lose sight of this. 00:14:46.519 --> 00:14:49.759 It's when we lose sight of our crucified saviour. 00:14:49.939 --> 00:14:51.360 When he's not the focus. 00:14:52.320 --> 00:14:55.799 That's when everything else becomes distorted, doesn't it? 00:14:57.200 --> 00:14:59.620 We can be overwhelmed with our guilt. 00:15:00.620 --> 00:15:04.059 The things of our past, even the things that we did last week, last night. 00:15:04.059 --> 00:15:09.399 And our sin can overwhelm and that can become the focus of our lives. 00:15:10.019 --> 00:15:17.439 But when the crucified Lord takes that place, it's like a soothing balm to our conscience. 00:15:19.439 --> 00:15:25.559 Or we can just be overwhelmed and overcome with all the hardship of life. 00:15:25.659 --> 00:15:27.119 All the things that have gone wrong. 00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:30.360 That can so easily become central. 00:15:30.759 --> 00:15:34.220 And we can get consumed with bitterness and grumbling. 00:15:35.580 --> 00:15:39.220 But it's when our saviour reclaims that focus. 00:15:40.440 --> 00:15:43.539 That's when we realise, I have a saviour that loves me. 00:15:44.100 --> 00:15:45.419 And cares for me. 00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:48.860 And I have so much to give thanks for. 00:15:50.860 --> 00:15:52.539 When we struggle to forgive. 00:15:53.620 --> 00:15:55.659 It's the cross that helps us. 00:15:55.659 --> 00:16:00.100 And we even begin to see other people the way that we should. 00:16:00.199 --> 00:16:03.319 We see our friends and neighbours not as a waste of time. 00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:06.899 But we see them as the lost needing this same death. 00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:12.100 We see brothers and sisters in the church around us not as a nuisance. 00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:17.339 But as blood-bought souls who, like us, are devoted to this death. 00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:23.860 And the future can so easily become this chaotic unknown in our eyes. 00:16:23.860 --> 00:16:25.860 We begin to see... 00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:31.019 We can so easily just think of the future as this scary journey ahead of us. 00:16:31.019 --> 00:16:33.720 Full of fear and problems and obstacles. 00:16:34.779 --> 00:16:38.080 But when the cross comes back into focus. 00:16:38.840 --> 00:16:43.560 We begin to see the future not as something to fear. 00:16:44.139 --> 00:16:47.620 But as an opportunity to serve this crucified man. 00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:50.000 Wherever he may lead us. 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:53.659 And so it's here. 00:16:54.340 --> 00:16:56.159 As we see Joseph of Arimathea. 00:16:56.320 --> 00:16:58.519 Jesus is bringing us back to our senses. 00:16:58.779 --> 00:16:59.759 Back to what matters. 00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:03.720 And showing us the devotion Christ deserves. 00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:06.799 Because he's given everything for us. 00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:11.339 But there's also something else Joseph shows us. 00:17:12.359 --> 00:17:15.159 He's an example of something else about discipleship. 00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:18.759 We see in his actions how he responds to the death of Jesus. 00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:21.899 We see something important about being a disciple. 00:17:23.059 --> 00:17:26.460 We see following Jesus takes courage. 00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:28.799 That's my second and final point today. 00:17:28.919 --> 00:17:30.460 Following Jesus takes courage. 00:17:30.460 --> 00:17:34.700 All that Joseph of Arimathea did here. 00:17:35.019 --> 00:17:36.340 It showed real devotion. 00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:38.960 But it also took real courage. 00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:41.180 Did you see that word in verse 43? 00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:42.079 Verse 43. 00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:45.900 He took courage. 00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:48.000 And went to Pilate. 00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:49.819 And asked for the body of Jesus. 00:17:51.019 --> 00:17:52.900 And just think about what courage is. 00:17:53.840 --> 00:17:56.460 Courage is heading into risk. 00:17:57.160 --> 00:17:58.400 Heading into danger. 00:17:58.400 --> 00:18:00.480 Because there is a good. 00:18:00.780 --> 00:18:02.820 Something worth it on the other side. 00:18:03.960 --> 00:18:05.620 So think of the firefighter. 00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:08.019 Heading into the danger of fire. 00:18:08.620 --> 00:18:12.019 Because he knows it's worth it to save a life. 00:18:13.800 --> 00:18:14.340 Courage. 00:18:14.780 --> 00:18:17.040 It's when the desire for that good ahead. 00:18:17.220 --> 00:18:21.180 It outweighs the fear of the danger in front of us. 00:18:23.040 --> 00:18:25.080 So when it says Joseph took courage. 00:18:25.079 --> 00:18:29.259 It means he really was in danger here. 00:18:30.599 --> 00:18:33.539 The decision to be devoted to this death. 00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:35.220 It was a risk. 00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:37.259 It took sacrifice. 00:18:38.419 --> 00:18:39.859 Just notice what his job was. 00:18:39.960 --> 00:18:40.539 Verse 43. 00:18:41.220 --> 00:18:44.259 He was a respected member of the council. 00:18:45.019 --> 00:18:46.379 Of the Jewish council. 00:18:47.659 --> 00:18:49.779 But who was that council? 00:18:49.779 --> 00:18:54.440 It was the very people who plotted against Jesus. 00:18:56.440 --> 00:18:59.660 Asking for the body of Jesus to show him this respect. 00:19:00.399 --> 00:19:02.700 That is to side with Jesus. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:08.559 And to side with Jesus is to go against the express will of that council. 00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:13.299 It was to not only lose the respect of the other council members. 00:19:13.899 --> 00:19:16.139 And the reputation that he had among them. 00:19:17.099 --> 00:19:18.119 Not only that. 00:19:18.220 --> 00:19:20.179 He could have lost his position entirely. 00:19:21.379 --> 00:19:23.679 They wanted to kill Jesus. 00:19:24.220 --> 00:19:26.039 But Joseph wants to bury him. 00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:28.980 And not only that. 00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:30.500 Jesus. 00:19:30.940 --> 00:19:34.599 He's just been publicly condemned as a criminal. 00:19:35.460 --> 00:19:36.579 A shameful criminal. 00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:39.359 And by siding with Jesus. 00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:43.399 Joseph is putting his whole public reputation on the line. 00:19:44.399 --> 00:19:45.879 Risking being an outcast. 00:19:47.319 --> 00:19:49.019 And even going to Pilate. 00:19:49.159 --> 00:19:49.919 That is risky. 00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:52.619 That is risking ruffling the feathers of the Romans. 00:19:53.819 --> 00:19:57.079 Making it seem like the Roman decision to leave the body isn't right. 00:19:58.579 --> 00:20:01.779 Not to mention the financial sacrifice of buying the linen. 00:20:02.720 --> 00:20:03.619 Giving up the tomb. 00:20:04.579 --> 00:20:05.579 He could have lost a lot. 00:20:05.579 --> 00:20:06.919 He could have lost everything. 00:20:07.919 --> 00:20:11.439 And so it took real courage to follow Jesus. 00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:14.679 And why did he do this? 00:20:16.099 --> 00:20:18.079 Why risk all this? 00:20:19.659 --> 00:20:21.659 Well why does anyone show courage? 00:20:22.980 --> 00:20:25.559 It's because the good ahead. 00:20:26.019 --> 00:20:26.939 It matters. 00:20:28.079 --> 00:20:29.220 It's worth it. 00:20:29.220 --> 00:20:34.120 And it is far greater than the fear in front of us. 00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:43.000 To side with Jesus is far greater than avoiding any danger down here on earth. 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:46.299 And again Joseph of Arimathea. 00:20:46.299 --> 00:20:48.099 He's a shining example of that. 00:20:49.460 --> 00:20:54.180 In this moment Joseph is saying I will give up everything for this man. 00:20:55.339 --> 00:20:56.819 I may face death. 00:20:56.819 --> 00:20:59.439 I may destroy my reputation here. 00:20:59.439 --> 00:21:03.619 But my saviour's death matters far more. 00:21:06.379 --> 00:21:07.879 Kids in Holiday Bible Club. 00:21:08.539 --> 00:21:09.659 Do you remember one of the truths? 00:21:10.379 --> 00:21:14.159 We must obey God rather than man. 00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:15.160 Well Joseph. 00:21:15.160 --> 00:21:16.160 Well Joseph. 00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:19.400 Maybe he was at Holiday Bible Club listening very well. 00:21:19.700 --> 00:21:21.040 Listening to the story of Daniel. 00:21:21.860 --> 00:21:23.140 Because we see it here. 00:21:23.740 --> 00:21:26.779 Joseph feared God more than man. 00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:32.040 He cared about Jesus more than caring about being comfortable. 00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:35.200 Well Jesus' reputation. 00:21:35.879 --> 00:21:36.500 His honour. 00:21:37.379 --> 00:21:40.720 That mattered far more than his own reputation. 00:21:42.339 --> 00:21:44.960 It's as if as Joseph takes down that body. 00:21:45.099 --> 00:21:47.700 It's as if he's saying Jesus died for me. 00:21:48.180 --> 00:21:49.960 So I will stand for him. 00:21:51.940 --> 00:21:53.579 And so with real courage. 00:21:53.700 --> 00:21:54.539 Real courage. 00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:57.480 Joseph buries our Lord. 00:21:57.480 --> 00:22:02.559 And this is showing us what is involved in following Jesus. 00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:05.420 It takes courage. 00:22:07.259 --> 00:22:11.160 Because we are not very far from being in a situation like Joseph of Arimathea. 00:22:12.539 --> 00:22:16.339 We won't have to be asked to bury Jesus. 00:22:17.420 --> 00:22:18.880 But in the same way. 00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:23.059 We will have to take courage and stand for our crucified saviour. 00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:26.279 In those moments at work. 00:22:26.279 --> 00:22:28.899 When that immoral policy comes in. 00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:32.220 And as a Christian you simply just cannot consent to it. 00:22:33.399 --> 00:22:34.399 Your reputation. 00:22:35.460 --> 00:22:37.259 The respect of your colleagues. 00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:39.359 Your finances are on the line. 00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:44.559 We actually face a Joseph of Arimathea moment. 00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:48.619 Will we stand back and just let it happen? 00:22:49.539 --> 00:22:52.680 Or will we take courage and stand for Christ. 00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:54.460 And be devoted to his death? 00:22:56.279 --> 00:22:57.200 In school. 00:22:57.559 --> 00:22:59.839 When you don't join in with that gossip. 00:23:00.379 --> 00:23:02.279 Or you don't join in with those jokes. 00:23:02.639 --> 00:23:04.220 Or you don't go to those parties. 00:23:04.779 --> 00:23:07.339 And you're known as that person. 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:11.160 And you're just treated like that Christian weirdo who doesn't do those things. 00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:13.319 That may be the cost. 00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:17.279 But that is you taking great courage. 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:22.379 That is you being devoted to your crucified saviour. 00:23:24.220 --> 00:23:26.019 Or getting baptised. 00:23:26.660 --> 00:23:29.839 Even if it could make your family situation very uncomfortable. 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:35.339 That is courage showing that my saviour is worth it. 00:23:35.339 --> 00:23:35.899 Courage. 00:23:35.899 --> 00:23:36.899 And courage. 00:23:36.899 --> 00:23:41.579 It isn't only found in these moments of persecution. 00:23:42.980 --> 00:23:44.339 Courage is there. 00:23:44.899 --> 00:23:47.000 Just as you persevere quietly. 00:23:47.899 --> 00:23:49.819 Through the hardships of life. 00:23:50.819 --> 00:23:52.339 Through the hardships of marriage. 00:23:52.899 --> 00:23:53.779 And parenting. 00:23:54.099 --> 00:23:55.059 Through the pain. 00:23:55.779 --> 00:23:57.819 Heading toward an uncertain future. 00:23:57.819 --> 00:24:00.980 But you do so trusting that God is with you. 00:24:01.819 --> 00:24:04.119 And you may not understand what's going on. 00:24:04.299 --> 00:24:05.899 But your hope is in God. 00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:07.539 And you cling to his promises. 00:24:07.899 --> 00:24:10.000 And you keep serving your saviour. 00:24:10.599 --> 00:24:11.720 That is courage. 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:15.980 That is devotion to your crucified saviour. 00:24:16.299 --> 00:24:18.480 That is you taking up your cross. 00:24:19.019 --> 00:24:20.399 Putting to death your pride. 00:24:20.579 --> 00:24:22.579 And honouring the one who died for us. 00:24:22.579 --> 00:24:25.579 And that is life following Jesus. 00:24:27.439 --> 00:24:28.779 It's a battle we're in. 00:24:29.779 --> 00:24:31.159 With our reputations. 00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:31.980 Our finances. 00:24:32.179 --> 00:24:33.399 Our pride on the line. 00:24:33.500 --> 00:24:35.859 Maybe even one day our lives on the line. 00:24:37.019 --> 00:24:39.879 And we enter this battle not taking up our swords. 00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:41.059 But taking up our crosses. 00:24:43.259 --> 00:24:44.879 And why can we have this courage? 00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:49.879 Why can we head through that danger with such certainty? 00:24:49.880 --> 00:24:53.080 It is because in his burial. 00:24:53.780 --> 00:24:56.840 The Lord Jesus has guaranteed our safety. 00:24:58.480 --> 00:25:02.540 The Lord Jesus has gone ahead into the grave for us. 00:25:02.660 --> 00:25:04.320 And he's come out the other side. 00:25:04.800 --> 00:25:06.160 Overcoming death itself. 00:25:07.280 --> 00:25:10.660 And so we can now go to the grave with every hope. 00:25:12.440 --> 00:25:15.200 A sure hope that our sins are forgiven. 00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:18.540 That we will be with Christ in death. 00:25:18.539 --> 00:25:20.019 That death is not the end. 00:25:21.220 --> 00:25:23.200 And that reward ahead of us. 00:25:23.299 --> 00:25:25.579 Outweighs any risk here on earth. 00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:28.539 And no one can take that away. 00:25:29.639 --> 00:25:30.980 But that's our certainty. 00:25:31.139 --> 00:25:32.980 The world may take your life. 00:25:33.180 --> 00:25:35.720 But they can never take away Christ. 00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:40.420 And honouring our saviour is far more valuable. 00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:43.399 Than any reputation or comfort. 00:25:43.399 --> 00:25:45.180 That we might be trying to keep here on earth. 00:25:45.180 --> 00:25:48.340 It's remarkable. 00:25:49.180 --> 00:25:51.600 As Jesus is buried here. 00:25:52.420 --> 00:25:53.640 This is our freedom. 00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:56.940 We are now free to die. 00:25:57.620 --> 00:25:59.600 Because he died for us. 00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:04.860 We are now free to give up everything that we have. 00:26:04.920 --> 00:26:07.200 Because he gave everything for us. 00:26:07.200 --> 00:26:10.620 We have a crucified saviour. 00:26:12.539 --> 00:26:15.360 So let's devote ourselves to the Lord Jesus. 00:26:16.620 --> 00:26:17.960 And take courage. 00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:21.660 Because he has gone to the grave for you. 00:26:22.539 --> 00:26:23.220 Let's pray. 00:26:23.220 --> 00:26:53.200 Let's pray.