matthew 27.57-60 Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.

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what an amazing thing joseph did. there was nothing to be gained here, and everything to be lost. at this moment everyone who knew Jesus was hiding, hoping no one would associate them with him. their hopes were dashed and they were scattered like sheep. yet joseph stepped forward and cared for the body of Jesus when no one else would. he put his life on the line, his reputation on the line; and his own considerable wealth and personal property were totally at God’s disposal. he gave his personal tomb to Jesus because it was important to him that the body of Jesus be treated with honor, even after the excruciatingly humiliating defeat of death by roman crucifixion.

this is a similar hour in history. today the body of Jesus, which is the church, is despised among men. even those who say they love Jesus speak out against the church, as if it were somehow a cold outdated institution detached from Jesus. there is very little honor to be gained (from men) in stepping up and asking for the body of the Lord Jesus Christ today. men value independence, intellectual detachment, freedom, entertainment, morals without power; individual spirituality with no strings attached.

yet there is an opportunity like never before to care for body of Christ, to identify with the church no matter what it costs us.

it used to be so important to me to distance myself from what i considered empty religion. i didn’t want anyone to confuse what i believed with some lifeless tradition that had Jesus’ name tacked onto it. now i understand that the only empty religion i ever have to answer to God for is my own. i really don’t need or want a reputation of my own. if the name of Jesus is mocked or misunderstood or spoken against, then i am happy to be personally mocked and misunderstood and spoken against with Jesus.

it is beautiful to me that Jesus loved the church, and gave himself for it >>