If you turn with me once again to John's Gospel, and this morning I'd like to read beginning with verse 30 of where we left off last time, and then read through the end of the 19th chapter.
30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
31 Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath ([a]for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with Him;33 but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. 36 For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, “Not a bone of Him shall be [b]broken.”37 And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”
38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So, he came and took away His body. 39 Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a [c]mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred [d]pounds weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
At the conclusion of our Lord suffering on the cross- his death - at this point, John provides us with several specific details in his account. Again, his focus is a little different than that of the synoptic writers. He includes some details here that they do not. Of course, if you recall, the synoptic writers have a real focus on just the dramatic events that took place as Jesus died - a very significant event that took place, and in fact the response of those around the cross as there was an earthquake, as the ground shook and people were going back beating their breast, and those who were at the foot of the cross, the soldier, was declaring, Surely, as he saw the way Christ died, this was the son of God. Those are the things that the synoptic writers focus on. John focuses on some specific details, the kind of details you would only get from a first-hand witness. Here he focuses attention on this fact that as the day wore on, and of course, as many of you are aware, these crucifixions could take a long time. It could take days for someone being crucified to die. And because of the fact that the Sabbath was coming, they did not want these men to be hanging there in a state of dying, and they asked Pilate that they would have their legs broken. This meant that once their legs were broke, they could no longer push themselves up and catch a breath be able to continue breathing and they would suffocate. John includes the details that Jesus was already dead, though the other two men with him were not yet. And the fact that the soldiers, one of the soldiers, pierced His side even though they knew He was dead, they didn't break His legs, and he declares that these are true facts. These are the kinds of facts that only a first-hand witness could have described. But I also want you to notice that there is a careful emphasis, not only by John, but the other writers as well. John is continually careful to demonstrate the fact that everything in the life of Jesus of Nazareth was in perfect harmony with the divinely inspired prophecies regarding the coming and the accomplishments of God's Christ. You see this here in this passage, in verse 36:
these things came to pass that the scripture might be fulfilled, not a bone, of Him shall be broken
and, again another Scripture says:
they shall look on Him whom they pierced.
You have this perspective even of the Lord in verse 28:
After this, Jesus knowing that all things had already been accomplished in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
We have the Lord's emphasis on this fact as well. Even in the upper room discourse you recall in chapter 17, the 12th verse in His prayer to the Father:
While I was with them, Jesus says, I was keeping them in thy name, which Thou hast given Me, and I guarded them and not one of them perished, but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled.
Jesus speaks of the Scripture being fulfilled in chapter 13 verse 18 as well, and you see this focus, and it's a very important one. God's word is true, God's word is faithful. We can count on it. In God's perfect plan of redemption then, when Jesus utters these words:
It is finished.
There's nothing left undone. And even in the events that take place immediately following the Lord's death, the fact that His legs were not broken, the fact that His side was pierced, again the word of God is being fulfilled, nothing is left undone. It is a confirmation when Jesus said:
It is finished
that our Redeemer's work is complete - accomplished as we said last time with a transcendent finality.
Now once at the consummation of the ages He’s been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself
Now John, we notice in this chapter, at the end of this chapter John records a unique occurrence after our Lord's suffering had been completed. Actually, all three of the synoptic Gospels also include this incident, though they do not include Nicodemus. It seems to me that this is an important thing, that there is some very important instruction for us to receive even from this seemingly minor incident. I want to read these last two verses once again:
And after these things, Joseph of Arimathea being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus and Pilate granted permission. He came therefore and took away His body and Nicodemus came also, who had first come to him by night, bringing a mixture of murder and aloes, about 100 pounds weight and so they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.
Several things I want to point out from this incident that is recorded for us here. The first thing that I want to point out to you is this - that genuine followers of Christ will eventually make it known. They will eventually make it known that they are followers of Christ. One of the things that we notice in this passage is that, and it's one of the first things that we notice, and that is, that Joseph and Nicodemus had not come forward publicly to acknowledge their allegiance to the Lord Jesus. We don't know their hearts, but up to this point anyway, up to this point in time, neither of these men had been willing to openly make known their allegiance to the Lord Jesus. There had been a period of hesitation in openly declaring their devotion to Christ. We don't know all that had transpired in their hearts. It’s very possible that they themselves had not been fully aware of the change that it taken place in their hearts, regarding Christ, at least for some interval of time. There's undoubtedly a very specific point in time when the sinner comes to saving faith in the Lord Jesus but is not as clear point in time for some, as it is for many, or for most. I don't know how it took place in their lives. It also may be that it may not seem to be as abrupt a change for some people, at least in that moment in time as it is for some, for many. Many times, it seems likely that we are quite unaware of the extent to which the spirit of God is working in our hearts by way of preparation. Long before we become aware of what is actually taking place. One thing we know from this passage and from one of the synoptic gospel accounts, Joseph of Arimathea we’re told, had become a follower of Christ. We’re told is here that he was a disciple of Jesus. One of the other accounts says he had become a follower of Jesus. We don't know when over the period of the Lord's public ministry, but we know we are told here that he had. We also are able to notice that there is a progression in Nicodemus. John is the only one who mentions Nicodemus, but of course he's a very prominent figure in John's Gospel. We go back to the third chapter when Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, asking the Lord some questions and he began with the statement in John chapter 3 verse two:
Rabbi, we know that you have come from God as a teacher for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.
Nicodemus had begun to work at the out the implications of the Lord’s teaching and ministry. He had been listening. He’d been thinking it through. He'd been observing Christ, and he makes really a very profound statement here, even though it's clear from the rest of the passage in chapter 3 there, he doesn't fully understand. But he has come to recognize certain facts that are undeniable to him, which, in fact, the rest of the Jewish leaders refused to accept.
You must be from God.
They were accusing him of being from Satan. You recall, also later on in John's Gospel, Nicodemus is mentioned another time in the seventh chapter, you recall when the leaders of the Jewish Council, they had sent men to arrest the Lord and they had come back without Jesus, and they were not very happy. The officers they had sent, the only answer they could give in response to their questioning as to why they had brought him back was:
never did a man speak way this man speaks.
And this made them furious. They said:
You have also not been led astray, have you? No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him has he?
Listened to the question they asked here:
But this multitude which does not know the law is accursed. Nicodemus said to them, He who came to them before, being one of them - Our law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?
Nicodemus sticks his foot out as it were. He actually begins to defend Jesus even in the presence of his peers, and of course their response to him is one of disgust. They say they answered him and said to him:
You are not also from Galilee are you? Search and see that no profit arises out of Galilee.
They put them down immediately. But Nicodemus is working these things through and is beginning to take a stand. We don't know when this came to completion in his heart. We don't need to know in many respects, but something happened to Joseph and to Nicodemus. By the way, isn't it interesting when they make the statement:
No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him has he?
Little did they know that the statement they made was not true. Anyway, we see that these two men come forward. But there's another reality that I do want us to notice that so often comes into play in the experience of genuine conversion. It is the realization of the significance and costly implications of our becoming followers of Christ. This can be more or less realized and that experience depending on the situation you're in, in this world. This is especially true for those who come to saving faith in the context of an aggressive opposition to the gospel. Some people as they contemplate Christ, they have to also contemplate their immediate family. Maybe, who does not believe or maybe who does not only not believe but has made it clear how much they hate Christianity. Or maybe within the context of a society and a culture that has threatened to punish anyone who comes and who makes a public profession of faith. For the people who are in these situations, this matter of coming to Christ can be especially intimidating, or maybe more specifically put, the matter not only of coming to Christ, but of making it known. These men had not up to this point made it known, even though they had become followers. We’re told clearly Joseph of our Arimathea become a follower of Christ. It's only natural for many to hope that they can keep their allegiance to Christ to themselves, especially in the face of potentially severe consequences. That's only natural. Most of us didn't come to Christ in those circumstances. Some of us did to some extent, but most of us have not, especially in terms of severe consequences. Some of you have come to Christ, knowing that it would mean there would be a cost in relation between you and your family. You and your loved ones. You and your parents or siblings or whoever that might include, but in the end, it is impossible for the genuine follower of Christ to keep it to themselves. I remind you of several passages - we could look at a lot of them in this respect. I don't want to spend too much time on this point, but you recall in John's Gospel the 17th chapter, just a little bit previously - When the Lord was praying to the Father he said in verse 14:
I have given them Thy word and the world has hated them.
To receive the truth of God, to receive the teaching of Christ, is to at some point incur the world's animosity and hatred. It may not happen right away. Some of us who have come to Christ in much more favorable conditions, it has taken a while for us to realize, Oh, we are actually going to be opposed. Not everybody is in favor of our reliance upon the Lord - our receiving the truth of His word, and in fact we begin to realize that many people who abhor that - who hate it. I remind you, as well, of the Lord’s teaching in what we commonly refer to as the Sermon on the Mount, He said in verse 14 of chapter 5 of Matthews gospel:
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
In Mark's gospel, the fourth chapter and the 22nd verse, Jesus says this:
For nothing is hidden except to be revealed, nor has anything been secret that but that it should come to light.
It seems to me there's a principle here - you see it in numerous passages. I remind you of the passage earlier on in John's Gospel when Jesus declared Himself to be the light of the world, He said in John 8:12:
I am the light of the world. He follows Me shall not walk in the darkness but shall have the light of life.
You can't stop walking in the darkness because of your possessing the light of life without that coming to other people's attention eventually. I've been struck several times by situations, I think of one situation that was relayed to me - that was described to me - and I thought it was really interesting. Someone was telling their pastor, they were describing to the pastor of this church that they had actually come to faith in Christ and they weren't sure how to tell their unsaved family. And this man had said to them as it had been recounted to me, this man had said to them wisely, don't say anything to them. And he thought that seem rather odd. Just wait until they see the change in your life and be ready to explain to them what has caused that change. I thought that was a really interesting way to look at it. There's going to be a change. It's going to be noticeable. It is not a question. Not that you have to sort of make sure that they know. I'm not saying that it's wrong to make that known immediately, not by any means, but I thought it was an interesting perspective. I think of a perspective that Saeed related to is not too awful long ago, it's been a while now. He was speaking of a young man who had come to faith in Christ, who was in this country at the time, and he was really very fearful to tell his parents, who were in Iran. His parents, if you recall, his father was a very influential man. And so, he was at talking going over with Saeed telling him, you know, I just don't really think would be wise for me to let them know what is happened. I remember Saeed saying to him, if this in fact is true and this has happened, you will not be able eventually to hide it from them. Eventually, they are going to find out , they're going to know, it's going to be revealed. And I remind you also of what Jesus said to Nicodemus in John chapter 3 verse 20 he said:
For everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
That's the position, that's the default position of every one of us apart from Christ. Everyone in this world apart from Christ. The default position is, I stay away from the light as much as possible. But here's the contrast,
he who practices the truth comes to the light.
That’s a huge distinction - no way to hide that - you come to the light, you're no longer avoiding the light, you're coming to the light. You long for the light. You've learned to love, you’ve come to love the light. Those who come to Christ as New Testament saints have been regenerated. They been given new life. They’ve been born of the spirit, if any man's in Christ is a new creation. Old things passed away, new things of come. The writer of Hebrews says that there are things that accompany salvation - no way to get around that, and those things are going to eventually make it known to an unbelieving world around you that you are a follower of Jesus. We could go on in that point, many passages we could look at.
I want to move on to a second lesson from this passage. The first one I think is important for us to recognize, no way that a genuine follower of Christ can keep that hidden indefinitely. Secondly, God calls sinners from all walks of life. I just want you to think about this for a moment. The Scriptures emphasize this fact that, generally speaking, it seems like there is a greater response to the gospel among poor - the poor or those who are in difficult situations and settings. And in fact, you recall that the apostle Paul makes a very specific point of this in first Corinthians chapter 1 he says in verse 26:
For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble.
Paul doesn't say, not any noble, not any mighty, he says not many. Joseph and Nicodemus are very different people, in terms of their circumstances and their positions in life than the closest of the Lord's followers, his disciples the 12. These men were different. These men were part of the Sanhedrin. They were part of the Jewish Council. Actually, we are told by one of the synoptic writers that Joseph of Arimathea was a prominent member of the Council. These are not insignificant men and there can be no doubt this is one of the reasons it was very difficult for them to come forward with their allegiance, their devotion to Christ.
One of the unique features of those who come to Christ is a genuine divinely ordained diversity, if I could use a very popular word these days. We live in a culture that is obsessed with a manipulated and preconceived concept of diversity, do we not? Everyone's for diversity aren’t they? Surely, we all. It becomes obvious from various people's idea of what a proper diversity is that people, all of us, are tainted to one extent or another by our own biased thinking. What one person considers diversity another person doesn't. There's no example within the realm of humanly organized entities that reflects an essential and unified diversity like that which is to be found in the body of Christ. Have you ever thought about that? I think it's something really encouraging that we’re thinking about. The world is running around somehow trying to come up with this perfect mix of people, when God has already done so in his church, and in a way that completely obliterates man's biased, his thinking, his natural thinking. I want you to consider, even for a moment, the far-ranging diversity that is found among those who came to Christ during his public ministry, and then during the formative years of His church. Think about this for a moment. I was just contemplating in my mind, I was thinking through all the different souls that came to Christ that were affected, that responded savingly to the gospel, common workers, slaves, prisoners, criminals, poor people, disabled people, insane people, prostitutes, thieves, soldiers, masters, rich men, prominent men, prominent women, rulers, strangers, misfits, young and old, the influential in the insignificant. You can just start going through the list, go through so many instances in the New Testament and you see an incredible diversity. This is one of the prominent imprints of the sovereign grace of God in saving sinners apart from any merit or standing of our own doing - no merit of our own whatsoever. God is saving and calling out a people for his own possession and He does so from all walks of life. People in all sorts of different situations come to Christ. The most unlikely people come to Christ, from a human perspective. From God's perspective it's impossible that any of us would come to Christ, but we have a bias. We think of certain people that would be much more likely to hear and to receive the gospel, don’t we? We think of other people who it seems, why would you even - Okay, maybe we should pray for them, but we don't pray in faith. Our bias is so strong. Here we see salvation coming even to two of the men who were part of a part of the body, the Council that had determined, and followed through with putting Jesus to death. We’re told by one of the synoptic writers that Joseph had not been in agreement with the Council to do this thing. It seems to me that in this respect, salvation is thus seen to be God's doing alone. We’re led to glory in Christ and put no confidence in the flesh. It doesn't matter what our background is, it doesn't matter who we are, or who we think we are, or who other people think we are. Those who are indeed genuine Christians are those who glory in Christ and put no confidence in the flesh. God's way of redemption is designed in such a way as to keep us from boasting. Paul concludes that chapter in first Corinthians that statement that he begins talking about the fact that there were not many wise, not many mighty, not many noble, and he ends by saying this:
but by his doing.
By his doing you are in Christ who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption that just as it is written, let him who boasts,
do what?
boast in the Lord.
No room for boasting.
A third lesson that I would like to glean from this passage, if we could this morning and that is this, that identifying with Christ requires an embracing of the shame of the cross. It will always do so. It will always require an embracing of the shame of the cross. Again, we live and a time, and it's not unusual, it's always been this way, to some extent - we live in a time it almost seems as though it's gone completely out of control. People are trying as hard as they can to mask that shame, to do away with the shame of becoming a Christian, to make following Christ look cool, acceptable, really neat, a wonderful great thing to do. Not that it isn’t a great and wonderful thing to do, but to ignore the shame of the cross. There's no masking the shame that is attached to a crucified Redeemer. Remember the passage we looked at last time. Festus and Felix are talking - I thought there was some big deal he done that, but they just have some argument about some dead man Jesus. I mean a crucified dead man, crucified as a criminal, dying in terrible shame. You can’t identify with Christ and not embrace the shame. And these men came before Pilate and willingly embraced the shame of the cross. We’re told by one of the synoptic writers that Joseph, even though he had become a disciple of Jesus and said he gathered up courage and went to Pilate. He didn't do it flippantly because, let me tell you, this was no little thing that these two men did. This was to publicly identify with the man who had been treated as shamefully as anyone can be treated. It's humiliating, the very thought of them going to a Roman ruler. These are members of the Council. These are members of the Council that had the highest authority in the Jewish nation. Rome had allowed them to good self-govern themselves up to a point and these are the men who are doing it. Two of these men now break ranks with the rest of them and go and prostrate themselves, as it were, before a Roman ruler and ask for the body of Christ. You know the one everyone spit at and beat and ridiculed and mocked and put to death. It requires a grotesque distortion of the gospel to eliminate the shame of the cross. This is a reality that was embraced from the very beginning of Christ’s church. These men, it seems to me, are almost front and center when it comes to this matter of embracing the shame of the cross. Here they come. It's over - the suffering has ended. It's been a horrific day - terrible beyond belief. And these two men had come to love and respect, reverentially, Jesus of Nazareth, and they have watched Him now die in shame. Rather than run from that and hide like his disciples for the most part did, these men stepped forward and said we want his body. You recall, early on in the Acts of the Apostles as the apostles were treated very badly by these very same this very same counsel. They were even beaten, threatened with death, and when they were released we’re told in Acts 5:41, we've mentioned many times:
They went on their way from the presence of the Council rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for his name.
And you and I need to be reminded of that - in the act of these two men - are we willing not just willing, do we rejoice in the reality that we would be considered worthy to suffer shame for Jesus. You and I both know - we all of us know - this to be true. There are many, many times in our lives when we are in situations where for us to declare an allegiance to Christ is going to be a matter of embracing shame. The way this society at large views that kind of allegiance, a kind of literal and loving devotion to Christ, is not good. They despise it. You recall that Paul had made mention of this fact that it would've been a lot easier for him to avoid that shame if he were just to get rid of the offense of the cross, in Galatians chapter 6 he speaks of that, but he says in verse 14:
May it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
You can substitute for the word cross, the shame, because that's what death on the cross is – it’s shameful as it can be:
But may never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.
What does the writer of Hebrews say towards the very end of the epistle, he says in verse 12:
Therefore, Jesus also that He might sanctify the people through His own blood suffered outside the gate.
He suffered in a place of shame and what is our response to be to that?
Hence let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.
Are you and I willing to bear the reproach of Christ, do we delight in it, do we rejoice and be counted worthy to bear His reproach?
One last thing that I want to bring to your attention in this passage, and that is simply this, that loving devotion to the Lord will be our greatest joy in this world. Loving devotion to our Lord will be our greatest joy. I don't think any of us could argue about the fact that we live in a world where people are increasingly obsessed with themselves. That's an understatement, I would say. There's an increasing and incessant appeal to the worship of self. It's everywhere. It's in-your-face, it's subtle, it's seductive, it’s pervasive and it’s a tragic deception. It is in the end, destructive, and it will disappoint you in the end.
Think of the statements - are you alert to the little ways that the world is constantly hammering this message home to us? Follow your dreams. Be true to yourself. Believe in yourself. You deserve to be happy. Your happiness is what matters. How does this make you feel? You're worth it. You deserve – whatever - you can fill in the blank for whatever. Here's the thing. In the right context, there may be an element of truth to some of the statements, and that is what makes them all the more effective in the schemes of the adversary. This statement, you're worth it. In what sense are we worth it? The only real worth we have, for example, is that we have been created in the image of God. We’re not worth it because of who we are in and of ourselves, but that's the message. The only realization of deepest joy and satisfaction comes from being joined to Christ and worshiping Him in loving devotion. Have you ever stopped to think about where this is leading us as a culture - this obsession with self, this worship of self? You just need to follow your passions. Believe in yourself. Be true to yourself. Have you ever stopped to think about the possibility that this might be one of the reasons that among young adults in this country, the greatest cause of death is suicide. This worship of self doesn't end well. It doesn't go well, it doesn't work. But the world keeps singing it louder and louder. Sometimes it is hammered to such an extent you can hardly not here it, and if we’re not careful, some of that begins to seep into our thinking, and it’s poison. It really is pure poison to the soul. Here are two men who gave, at some point in time, they came to a point where their thoughts of self were just wiped out, were pushed off to the side, by what? – by their love and their devotion to Jesus Christ. Period! What else could have pushed them to do something like this? They saw His lifeless body and they began to think, what’s going to be done with Him? They cared about Him and they realized that if they were going to show the kind of care and love that He deserved and they wanted to show to Him, they would have to come forward. They wouldn't have to come out of the dark, out of the shadows, as it were, and say, Pilate, we liked to have His body and we’re prepared to spend quite a bit on taking care of Him and showing our respect and love for the Lord.
I know it's not stated directly in the passage, but it is impossible to miss the immense satisfaction these two men must have experienced in the sacrificial act of love for Christ. Imagine what it was like for them as they bandaged up His body, wrapped His body and put It in this tomb - added the spices. These are the things you did to someone you loved, and you venerated, someone you cared about. This was how you would show honor, and for them, that's the least they could do. Imagine what was going on in their hearts as they were doing that. They gathered up the courage, they made the move and now it was time to show their love for the Lord.
Worshiping self leads to debilitating frustration and bitter disappointment. It’s just a fact. All you have to do is look at our society. Here's the problem. You and I are not worthy of that kind of attention and admiration. That's the problem. When somebody tells you and encourages you to believe in yourself, you need to really stop and think, am I worth believing in? Stop and think about that for a moment. Who am I really? What am I really like? What does God say about me? Who am I apart from Christ? Am I somebody worth believing in? What a lie – what a deception. We are not worthy of such attention and esteem. God is. He is! That word worthy is found time and time again throughout the Scriptures, is it not? And God is Himself, alone, worthy. There's no one to put alongside of God and share His honor. When we start doing that, even in the littlest ways, we get into trouble. Almost immediately, we are going to get into trouble. He alone is worthy of our devotion and our love. These men understood that, and they just simply poured out themselves in any way they could, the only thing they knew what how to do at that point in time. What are you going to do? Your Lord's been crucified shamefully. The pain, the agony, the scene must've been absolutely horrific, but they found a way to show love to the Lord - show they honored Him, and they did honor Him.
You and I show our loving devotion to Christ in reverential worship in the way respond to His word, but especially in relation to this particular text. It seems to me that the way we especially show a loving devotion to Christ is in the way we treat one another. It just is. What is Jesus going to say very not much longer from the passage we’re in right now? What does He say to Peter very soon after He is resurrected from the dead? Do you love Me? Do you really love me Peter? What does Jesus say? How is it that Peter's going to show that love? He’s going to tend the Lord’s lambs.
Tend my sheep, feed my sheep, take care of my people.
The way you and I treat each other is the primary way we demonstrate this kind of loving devotion to Christ, and we need to see it that way. We have a tendency not to. We sort of somehow separate God's people from the Lord and we shouldn't do that. Jesus made that clear. You treat one of the least of these like this, and you've done this to Me, Jesus said. You give that cup of cold water to this weary weak one, you’ve done that to Me. And we need to be encouraged to see that when we have an opportunity to minister to one another to be faithful, to show a loving devotion to Christ. The primary way we do that is the way we treat one another - the loving devotion we show to each other in Christ. We don't have time this morning, but I was just going through my mind and looking up in my concordance all the different references to the joy - the apostles describing the joy they had. I think of Paul, especially describing the joy, the deepest joy in his heart because of the people that he was working with. Those precious saints that he was serving in Christ. What a joy that brought to him. Think of the beloved disciple, John:
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
What does Paul say? Remember those words that he utters when he hears that his dear brothers and sisters are doing well. He says: Now we really live.
Man, that makes me feel alive! What joy! This is our deepest joy. And you and I need to be so careful, we got to stop listening to the world. The world says it's so fun, it’s so fulfilling to do this, this, this, this, and this. This is our deepest joy. This is the deepest satisfaction any of us can ever experience - is to show our love and honor for Christ by honoring and loving one another. Remember what Paul says there in Philippians, it just comes to my mind in that second chapter:
If, therefore, there is any encouragement in Christ, if there's any consolation of love, if there's any fellowship of the spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete, by being of the same time maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose,
And, then, of course, the whole point in the passage is looking to Christ is our example.
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.
I just would ask you this morning to consider this passage, this brief little account in the narrative of our Lord, that we would be challenged and encouraged by these two men who came forward and exhibited for the world to see - they identified with Christ. They identified with His shame - they went out bearing His reproach. They didn't care what anyone was going to say. And believe me, you can only imagine what some of their peers were saying. What a joy it must've been for them – what an absolute joy and satisfaction.
30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.
31 Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath ([a]for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with Him;33 but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. 36 For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, “Not a bone of Him shall be [b]broken.”37 And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”
38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So, he came and took away His body. 39 Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a [c]mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred [d]pounds weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
At the conclusion of our Lord suffering on the cross- his death - at this point, John provides us with several specific details in his account. Again, his focus is a little different than that of the synoptic writers. He includes some details here that they do not. Of course, if you recall, the synoptic writers have a real focus on just the dramatic events that took place as Jesus died - a very significant event that took place, and in fact the response of those around the cross as there was an earthquake, as the ground shook and people were going back beating their breast, and those who were at the foot of the cross, the soldier, was declaring, Surely, as he saw the way Christ died, this was the son of God. Those are the things that the synoptic writers focus on. John focuses on some specific details, the kind of details you would only get from a first-hand witness. Here he focuses attention on this fact that as the day wore on, and of course, as many of you are aware, these crucifixions could take a long time. It could take days for someone being crucified to die. And because of the fact that the Sabbath was coming, they did not want these men to be hanging there in a state of dying, and they asked Pilate that they would have their legs broken. This meant that once their legs were broke, they could no longer push themselves up and catch a breath be able to continue breathing and they would suffocate. John includes the details that Jesus was already dead, though the other two men with him were not yet. And the fact that the soldiers, one of the soldiers, pierced His side even though they knew He was dead, they didn't break His legs, and he declares that these are true facts. These are the kinds of facts that only a first-hand witness could have described. But I also want you to notice that there is a careful emphasis, not only by John, but the other writers as well. John is continually careful to demonstrate the fact that everything in the life of Jesus of Nazareth was in perfect harmony with the divinely inspired prophecies regarding the coming and the accomplishments of God's Christ. You see this here in this passage, in verse 36:
these things came to pass that the scripture might be fulfilled, not a bone, of Him shall be broken
and, again another Scripture says:
they shall look on Him whom they pierced.
You have this perspective even of the Lord in verse 28:
After this, Jesus knowing that all things had already been accomplished in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
We have the Lord's emphasis on this fact as well. Even in the upper room discourse you recall in chapter 17, the 12th verse in His prayer to the Father:
While I was with them, Jesus says, I was keeping them in thy name, which Thou hast given Me, and I guarded them and not one of them perished, but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled.
Jesus speaks of the Scripture being fulfilled in chapter 13 verse 18 as well, and you see this focus, and it's a very important one. God's word is true, God's word is faithful. We can count on it. In God's perfect plan of redemption then, when Jesus utters these words:
It is finished.
There's nothing left undone. And even in the events that take place immediately following the Lord's death, the fact that His legs were not broken, the fact that His side was pierced, again the word of God is being fulfilled, nothing is left undone. It is a confirmation when Jesus said:
It is finished
that our Redeemer's work is complete - accomplished as we said last time with a transcendent finality.
Now once at the consummation of the ages He’s been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself
Now John, we notice in this chapter, at the end of this chapter John records a unique occurrence after our Lord's suffering had been completed. Actually, all three of the synoptic Gospels also include this incident, though they do not include Nicodemus. It seems to me that this is an important thing, that there is some very important instruction for us to receive even from this seemingly minor incident. I want to read these last two verses once again:
And after these things, Joseph of Arimathea being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus and Pilate granted permission. He came therefore and took away His body and Nicodemus came also, who had first come to him by night, bringing a mixture of murder and aloes, about 100 pounds weight and so they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.
Several things I want to point out from this incident that is recorded for us here. The first thing that I want to point out to you is this - that genuine followers of Christ will eventually make it known. They will eventually make it known that they are followers of Christ. One of the things that we notice in this passage is that, and it's one of the first things that we notice, and that is, that Joseph and Nicodemus had not come forward publicly to acknowledge their allegiance to the Lord Jesus. We don't know their hearts, but up to this point anyway, up to this point in time, neither of these men had been willing to openly make known their allegiance to the Lord Jesus. There had been a period of hesitation in openly declaring their devotion to Christ. We don't know all that had transpired in their hearts. It’s very possible that they themselves had not been fully aware of the change that it taken place in their hearts, regarding Christ, at least for some interval of time. There's undoubtedly a very specific point in time when the sinner comes to saving faith in the Lord Jesus but is not as clear point in time for some, as it is for many, or for most. I don't know how it took place in their lives. It also may be that it may not seem to be as abrupt a change for some people, at least in that moment in time as it is for some, for many. Many times, it seems likely that we are quite unaware of the extent to which the spirit of God is working in our hearts by way of preparation. Long before we become aware of what is actually taking place. One thing we know from this passage and from one of the synoptic gospel accounts, Joseph of Arimathea we’re told, had become a follower of Christ. We’re told is here that he was a disciple of Jesus. One of the other accounts says he had become a follower of Jesus. We don't know when over the period of the Lord's public ministry, but we know we are told here that he had. We also are able to notice that there is a progression in Nicodemus. John is the only one who mentions Nicodemus, but of course he's a very prominent figure in John's Gospel. We go back to the third chapter when Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, asking the Lord some questions and he began with the statement in John chapter 3 verse two:
Rabbi, we know that you have come from God as a teacher for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.
Nicodemus had begun to work at the out the implications of the Lord’s teaching and ministry. He had been listening. He’d been thinking it through. He'd been observing Christ, and he makes really a very profound statement here, even though it's clear from the rest of the passage in chapter 3 there, he doesn't fully understand. But he has come to recognize certain facts that are undeniable to him, which, in fact, the rest of the Jewish leaders refused to accept.
You must be from God.
They were accusing him of being from Satan. You recall, also later on in John's Gospel, Nicodemus is mentioned another time in the seventh chapter, you recall when the leaders of the Jewish Council, they had sent men to arrest the Lord and they had come back without Jesus, and they were not very happy. The officers they had sent, the only answer they could give in response to their questioning as to why they had brought him back was:
never did a man speak way this man speaks.
And this made them furious. They said:
You have also not been led astray, have you? No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him has he?
Listened to the question they asked here:
But this multitude which does not know the law is accursed. Nicodemus said to them, He who came to them before, being one of them - Our law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?
Nicodemus sticks his foot out as it were. He actually begins to defend Jesus even in the presence of his peers, and of course their response to him is one of disgust. They say they answered him and said to him:
You are not also from Galilee are you? Search and see that no profit arises out of Galilee.
They put them down immediately. But Nicodemus is working these things through and is beginning to take a stand. We don't know when this came to completion in his heart. We don't need to know in many respects, but something happened to Joseph and to Nicodemus. By the way, isn't it interesting when they make the statement:
No one of the rulers or Pharisees has believed in Him has he?
Little did they know that the statement they made was not true. Anyway, we see that these two men come forward. But there's another reality that I do want us to notice that so often comes into play in the experience of genuine conversion. It is the realization of the significance and costly implications of our becoming followers of Christ. This can be more or less realized and that experience depending on the situation you're in, in this world. This is especially true for those who come to saving faith in the context of an aggressive opposition to the gospel. Some people as they contemplate Christ, they have to also contemplate their immediate family. Maybe, who does not believe or maybe who does not only not believe but has made it clear how much they hate Christianity. Or maybe within the context of a society and a culture that has threatened to punish anyone who comes and who makes a public profession of faith. For the people who are in these situations, this matter of coming to Christ can be especially intimidating, or maybe more specifically put, the matter not only of coming to Christ, but of making it known. These men had not up to this point made it known, even though they had become followers. We’re told clearly Joseph of our Arimathea become a follower of Christ. It's only natural for many to hope that they can keep their allegiance to Christ to themselves, especially in the face of potentially severe consequences. That's only natural. Most of us didn't come to Christ in those circumstances. Some of us did to some extent, but most of us have not, especially in terms of severe consequences. Some of you have come to Christ, knowing that it would mean there would be a cost in relation between you and your family. You and your loved ones. You and your parents or siblings or whoever that might include, but in the end, it is impossible for the genuine follower of Christ to keep it to themselves. I remind you of several passages - we could look at a lot of them in this respect. I don't want to spend too much time on this point, but you recall in John's Gospel the 17th chapter, just a little bit previously - When the Lord was praying to the Father he said in verse 14:
I have given them Thy word and the world has hated them.
To receive the truth of God, to receive the teaching of Christ, is to at some point incur the world's animosity and hatred. It may not happen right away. Some of us who have come to Christ in much more favorable conditions, it has taken a while for us to realize, Oh, we are actually going to be opposed. Not everybody is in favor of our reliance upon the Lord - our receiving the truth of His word, and in fact we begin to realize that many people who abhor that - who hate it. I remind you, as well, of the Lord’s teaching in what we commonly refer to as the Sermon on the Mount, He said in verse 14 of chapter 5 of Matthews gospel:
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
In Mark's gospel, the fourth chapter and the 22nd verse, Jesus says this:
For nothing is hidden except to be revealed, nor has anything been secret that but that it should come to light.
It seems to me there's a principle here - you see it in numerous passages. I remind you of the passage earlier on in John's Gospel when Jesus declared Himself to be the light of the world, He said in John 8:12:
I am the light of the world. He follows Me shall not walk in the darkness but shall have the light of life.
You can't stop walking in the darkness because of your possessing the light of life without that coming to other people's attention eventually. I've been struck several times by situations, I think of one situation that was relayed to me - that was described to me - and I thought it was really interesting. Someone was telling their pastor, they were describing to the pastor of this church that they had actually come to faith in Christ and they weren't sure how to tell their unsaved family. And this man had said to them as it had been recounted to me, this man had said to them wisely, don't say anything to them. And he thought that seem rather odd. Just wait until they see the change in your life and be ready to explain to them what has caused that change. I thought that was a really interesting way to look at it. There's going to be a change. It's going to be noticeable. It is not a question. Not that you have to sort of make sure that they know. I'm not saying that it's wrong to make that known immediately, not by any means, but I thought it was an interesting perspective. I think of a perspective that Saeed related to is not too awful long ago, it's been a while now. He was speaking of a young man who had come to faith in Christ, who was in this country at the time, and he was really very fearful to tell his parents, who were in Iran. His parents, if you recall, his father was a very influential man. And so, he was at talking going over with Saeed telling him, you know, I just don't really think would be wise for me to let them know what is happened. I remember Saeed saying to him, if this in fact is true and this has happened, you will not be able eventually to hide it from them. Eventually, they are going to find out , they're going to know, it's going to be revealed. And I remind you also of what Jesus said to Nicodemus in John chapter 3 verse 20 he said:
For everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
That's the position, that's the default position of every one of us apart from Christ. Everyone in this world apart from Christ. The default position is, I stay away from the light as much as possible. But here's the contrast,
he who practices the truth comes to the light.
That’s a huge distinction - no way to hide that - you come to the light, you're no longer avoiding the light, you're coming to the light. You long for the light. You've learned to love, you’ve come to love the light. Those who come to Christ as New Testament saints have been regenerated. They been given new life. They’ve been born of the spirit, if any man's in Christ is a new creation. Old things passed away, new things of come. The writer of Hebrews says that there are things that accompany salvation - no way to get around that, and those things are going to eventually make it known to an unbelieving world around you that you are a follower of Jesus. We could go on in that point, many passages we could look at.
I want to move on to a second lesson from this passage. The first one I think is important for us to recognize, no way that a genuine follower of Christ can keep that hidden indefinitely. Secondly, God calls sinners from all walks of life. I just want you to think about this for a moment. The Scriptures emphasize this fact that, generally speaking, it seems like there is a greater response to the gospel among poor - the poor or those who are in difficult situations and settings. And in fact, you recall that the apostle Paul makes a very specific point of this in first Corinthians chapter 1 he says in verse 26:
For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble.
Paul doesn't say, not any noble, not any mighty, he says not many. Joseph and Nicodemus are very different people, in terms of their circumstances and their positions in life than the closest of the Lord's followers, his disciples the 12. These men were different. These men were part of the Sanhedrin. They were part of the Jewish Council. Actually, we are told by one of the synoptic writers that Joseph of Arimathea was a prominent member of the Council. These are not insignificant men and there can be no doubt this is one of the reasons it was very difficult for them to come forward with their allegiance, their devotion to Christ.
One of the unique features of those who come to Christ is a genuine divinely ordained diversity, if I could use a very popular word these days. We live in a culture that is obsessed with a manipulated and preconceived concept of diversity, do we not? Everyone's for diversity aren’t they? Surely, we all. It becomes obvious from various people's idea of what a proper diversity is that people, all of us, are tainted to one extent or another by our own biased thinking. What one person considers diversity another person doesn't. There's no example within the realm of humanly organized entities that reflects an essential and unified diversity like that which is to be found in the body of Christ. Have you ever thought about that? I think it's something really encouraging that we’re thinking about. The world is running around somehow trying to come up with this perfect mix of people, when God has already done so in his church, and in a way that completely obliterates man's biased, his thinking, his natural thinking. I want you to consider, even for a moment, the far-ranging diversity that is found among those who came to Christ during his public ministry, and then during the formative years of His church. Think about this for a moment. I was just contemplating in my mind, I was thinking through all the different souls that came to Christ that were affected, that responded savingly to the gospel, common workers, slaves, prisoners, criminals, poor people, disabled people, insane people, prostitutes, thieves, soldiers, masters, rich men, prominent men, prominent women, rulers, strangers, misfits, young and old, the influential in the insignificant. You can just start going through the list, go through so many instances in the New Testament and you see an incredible diversity. This is one of the prominent imprints of the sovereign grace of God in saving sinners apart from any merit or standing of our own doing - no merit of our own whatsoever. God is saving and calling out a people for his own possession and He does so from all walks of life. People in all sorts of different situations come to Christ. The most unlikely people come to Christ, from a human perspective. From God's perspective it's impossible that any of us would come to Christ, but we have a bias. We think of certain people that would be much more likely to hear and to receive the gospel, don’t we? We think of other people who it seems, why would you even - Okay, maybe we should pray for them, but we don't pray in faith. Our bias is so strong. Here we see salvation coming even to two of the men who were part of a part of the body, the Council that had determined, and followed through with putting Jesus to death. We’re told by one of the synoptic writers that Joseph had not been in agreement with the Council to do this thing. It seems to me that in this respect, salvation is thus seen to be God's doing alone. We’re led to glory in Christ and put no confidence in the flesh. It doesn't matter what our background is, it doesn't matter who we are, or who we think we are, or who other people think we are. Those who are indeed genuine Christians are those who glory in Christ and put no confidence in the flesh. God's way of redemption is designed in such a way as to keep us from boasting. Paul concludes that chapter in first Corinthians that statement that he begins talking about the fact that there were not many wise, not many mighty, not many noble, and he ends by saying this:
but by his doing.
By his doing you are in Christ who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption that just as it is written, let him who boasts,
do what?
boast in the Lord.
No room for boasting.
A third lesson that I would like to glean from this passage, if we could this morning and that is this, that identifying with Christ requires an embracing of the shame of the cross. It will always do so. It will always require an embracing of the shame of the cross. Again, we live and a time, and it's not unusual, it's always been this way, to some extent - we live in a time it almost seems as though it's gone completely out of control. People are trying as hard as they can to mask that shame, to do away with the shame of becoming a Christian, to make following Christ look cool, acceptable, really neat, a wonderful great thing to do. Not that it isn’t a great and wonderful thing to do, but to ignore the shame of the cross. There's no masking the shame that is attached to a crucified Redeemer. Remember the passage we looked at last time. Festus and Felix are talking - I thought there was some big deal he done that, but they just have some argument about some dead man Jesus. I mean a crucified dead man, crucified as a criminal, dying in terrible shame. You can’t identify with Christ and not embrace the shame. And these men came before Pilate and willingly embraced the shame of the cross. We’re told by one of the synoptic writers that Joseph, even though he had become a disciple of Jesus and said he gathered up courage and went to Pilate. He didn't do it flippantly because, let me tell you, this was no little thing that these two men did. This was to publicly identify with the man who had been treated as shamefully as anyone can be treated. It's humiliating, the very thought of them going to a Roman ruler. These are members of the Council. These are members of the Council that had the highest authority in the Jewish nation. Rome had allowed them to good self-govern themselves up to a point and these are the men who are doing it. Two of these men now break ranks with the rest of them and go and prostrate themselves, as it were, before a Roman ruler and ask for the body of Christ. You know the one everyone spit at and beat and ridiculed and mocked and put to death. It requires a grotesque distortion of the gospel to eliminate the shame of the cross. This is a reality that was embraced from the very beginning of Christ’s church. These men, it seems to me, are almost front and center when it comes to this matter of embracing the shame of the cross. Here they come. It's over - the suffering has ended. It's been a horrific day - terrible beyond belief. And these two men had come to love and respect, reverentially, Jesus of Nazareth, and they have watched Him now die in shame. Rather than run from that and hide like his disciples for the most part did, these men stepped forward and said we want his body. You recall, early on in the Acts of the Apostles as the apostles were treated very badly by these very same this very same counsel. They were even beaten, threatened with death, and when they were released we’re told in Acts 5:41, we've mentioned many times:
They went on their way from the presence of the Council rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for his name.
And you and I need to be reminded of that - in the act of these two men - are we willing not just willing, do we rejoice in the reality that we would be considered worthy to suffer shame for Jesus. You and I both know - we all of us know - this to be true. There are many, many times in our lives when we are in situations where for us to declare an allegiance to Christ is going to be a matter of embracing shame. The way this society at large views that kind of allegiance, a kind of literal and loving devotion to Christ, is not good. They despise it. You recall that Paul had made mention of this fact that it would've been a lot easier for him to avoid that shame if he were just to get rid of the offense of the cross, in Galatians chapter 6 he speaks of that, but he says in verse 14:
May it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
You can substitute for the word cross, the shame, because that's what death on the cross is – it’s shameful as it can be:
But may never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.
What does the writer of Hebrews say towards the very end of the epistle, he says in verse 12:
Therefore, Jesus also that He might sanctify the people through His own blood suffered outside the gate.
He suffered in a place of shame and what is our response to be to that?
Hence let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.
Are you and I willing to bear the reproach of Christ, do we delight in it, do we rejoice and be counted worthy to bear His reproach?
One last thing that I want to bring to your attention in this passage, and that is simply this, that loving devotion to the Lord will be our greatest joy in this world. Loving devotion to our Lord will be our greatest joy. I don't think any of us could argue about the fact that we live in a world where people are increasingly obsessed with themselves. That's an understatement, I would say. There's an increasing and incessant appeal to the worship of self. It's everywhere. It's in-your-face, it's subtle, it's seductive, it’s pervasive and it’s a tragic deception. It is in the end, destructive, and it will disappoint you in the end.
Think of the statements - are you alert to the little ways that the world is constantly hammering this message home to us? Follow your dreams. Be true to yourself. Believe in yourself. You deserve to be happy. Your happiness is what matters. How does this make you feel? You're worth it. You deserve – whatever - you can fill in the blank for whatever. Here's the thing. In the right context, there may be an element of truth to some of the statements, and that is what makes them all the more effective in the schemes of the adversary. This statement, you're worth it. In what sense are we worth it? The only real worth we have, for example, is that we have been created in the image of God. We’re not worth it because of who we are in and of ourselves, but that's the message. The only realization of deepest joy and satisfaction comes from being joined to Christ and worshiping Him in loving devotion. Have you ever stopped to think about where this is leading us as a culture - this obsession with self, this worship of self? You just need to follow your passions. Believe in yourself. Be true to yourself. Have you ever stopped to think about the possibility that this might be one of the reasons that among young adults in this country, the greatest cause of death is suicide. This worship of self doesn't end well. It doesn't go well, it doesn't work. But the world keeps singing it louder and louder. Sometimes it is hammered to such an extent you can hardly not here it, and if we’re not careful, some of that begins to seep into our thinking, and it’s poison. It really is pure poison to the soul. Here are two men who gave, at some point in time, they came to a point where their thoughts of self were just wiped out, were pushed off to the side, by what? – by their love and their devotion to Jesus Christ. Period! What else could have pushed them to do something like this? They saw His lifeless body and they began to think, what’s going to be done with Him? They cared about Him and they realized that if they were going to show the kind of care and love that He deserved and they wanted to show to Him, they would have to come forward. They wouldn't have to come out of the dark, out of the shadows, as it were, and say, Pilate, we liked to have His body and we’re prepared to spend quite a bit on taking care of Him and showing our respect and love for the Lord.
I know it's not stated directly in the passage, but it is impossible to miss the immense satisfaction these two men must have experienced in the sacrificial act of love for Christ. Imagine what it was like for them as they bandaged up His body, wrapped His body and put It in this tomb - added the spices. These are the things you did to someone you loved, and you venerated, someone you cared about. This was how you would show honor, and for them, that's the least they could do. Imagine what was going on in their hearts as they were doing that. They gathered up the courage, they made the move and now it was time to show their love for the Lord.
Worshiping self leads to debilitating frustration and bitter disappointment. It’s just a fact. All you have to do is look at our society. Here's the problem. You and I are not worthy of that kind of attention and admiration. That's the problem. When somebody tells you and encourages you to believe in yourself, you need to really stop and think, am I worth believing in? Stop and think about that for a moment. Who am I really? What am I really like? What does God say about me? Who am I apart from Christ? Am I somebody worth believing in? What a lie – what a deception. We are not worthy of such attention and esteem. God is. He is! That word worthy is found time and time again throughout the Scriptures, is it not? And God is Himself, alone, worthy. There's no one to put alongside of God and share His honor. When we start doing that, even in the littlest ways, we get into trouble. Almost immediately, we are going to get into trouble. He alone is worthy of our devotion and our love. These men understood that, and they just simply poured out themselves in any way they could, the only thing they knew what how to do at that point in time. What are you going to do? Your Lord's been crucified shamefully. The pain, the agony, the scene must've been absolutely horrific, but they found a way to show love to the Lord - show they honored Him, and they did honor Him.
You and I show our loving devotion to Christ in reverential worship in the way respond to His word, but especially in relation to this particular text. It seems to me that the way we especially show a loving devotion to Christ is in the way we treat one another. It just is. What is Jesus going to say very not much longer from the passage we’re in right now? What does He say to Peter very soon after He is resurrected from the dead? Do you love Me? Do you really love me Peter? What does Jesus say? How is it that Peter's going to show that love? He’s going to tend the Lord’s lambs.
Tend my sheep, feed my sheep, take care of my people.
The way you and I treat each other is the primary way we demonstrate this kind of loving devotion to Christ, and we need to see it that way. We have a tendency not to. We sort of somehow separate God's people from the Lord and we shouldn't do that. Jesus made that clear. You treat one of the least of these like this, and you've done this to Me, Jesus said. You give that cup of cold water to this weary weak one, you’ve done that to Me. And we need to be encouraged to see that when we have an opportunity to minister to one another to be faithful, to show a loving devotion to Christ. The primary way we do that is the way we treat one another - the loving devotion we show to each other in Christ. We don't have time this morning, but I was just going through my mind and looking up in my concordance all the different references to the joy - the apostles describing the joy they had. I think of Paul, especially describing the joy, the deepest joy in his heart because of the people that he was working with. Those precious saints that he was serving in Christ. What a joy that brought to him. Think of the beloved disciple, John:
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
What does Paul say? Remember those words that he utters when he hears that his dear brothers and sisters are doing well. He says: Now we really live.
Man, that makes me feel alive! What joy! This is our deepest joy. And you and I need to be so careful, we got to stop listening to the world. The world says it's so fun, it’s so fulfilling to do this, this, this, this, and this. This is our deepest joy. This is the deepest satisfaction any of us can ever experience - is to show our love and honor for Christ by honoring and loving one another. Remember what Paul says there in Philippians, it just comes to my mind in that second chapter:
If, therefore, there is any encouragement in Christ, if there's any consolation of love, if there's any fellowship of the spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete, by being of the same time maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose,
And, then, of course, the whole point in the passage is looking to Christ is our example.
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.
I just would ask you this morning to consider this passage, this brief little account in the narrative of our Lord, that we would be challenged and encouraged by these two men who came forward and exhibited for the world to see - they identified with Christ. They identified with His shame - they went out bearing His reproach. They didn't care what anyone was going to say. And believe me, you can only imagine what some of their peers were saying. What a joy it must've been for them – what an absolute joy and satisfaction.