Holy Saturday devotion - Matthew 27:57-66

Holy Saturday – Low Saturday

Gospel reading: Matthew 27:57-66

Matthew 27:57 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. (NIV)

            In the Gospels, rich people are sometimes cast as greedy villains who are insensitive to the poverty and suffering around them. This makes us tend to think that Christ’s message was strictly limited to an underprivileged socio-economic class, but nothing is further from the truth. The Gospel that Jesus preached was for everyone and the message that He proclaimed wasn’t exclusive to one group alone.

            Take, for instance, Joseph of Arimathea. We are told that he is a rich person who had become a disciple of Christ. He obviously had a good reputation because he was able to arrange an urgent meeting with Pilate, in order to obtain the dead body of Christ. This would have made him a marked man in the Governor’s eyes, as well as a radical among the religious authorities, but this did not stop Joseph from making his request. He was a true follower of Christ, so he used his influence and resources to ensure that Jesus received a decent burial, instead of letting his body be cast aside and thrown on the local dung heap.

            Joseph’s commitment and courage show that rich people can actually be effective disciples and great influencers in the work of Christ. The prosperous Arimathean respectfully took Christ’s battered body and laid it sacredly in a tomb. He wanted Christ to have an honorable end to His ministry. What Joseph didn’t know, of course, was that he was playing a remarkable part in the glorious resurrection event that was still to come, so just as some of Christ’s friends had been devoted to Jesus, here we also have a rich man doing all that he could for the Teacher he loved and served.

Point to ponder

How can I use my influence and resources to advance Christ’s ministry?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have called all different sorts of people to Your ministry of salvation and message of love. We are thankful for the privilege of serving You with our time, talents, and treasures, in order to advance Your work and glorify Your Name. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come and join us for worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM. You’ll be made very welcome.

Today’s image is one of John’s Holy Saturday drawings called “Starfall.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Starfall.

Holy Week devotion: Vigil Saturday - John 19:38-42

Bible Reading: John 19:38-42

Today’s verse:                   John 19:38

Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body.

            I like the Gospel story of Joseph of Arimathea. He’s an unsung hero during a time of sadness and crisis. Before the crucifixion, Joseph had been a secret follower of Jesus, but didn’t want to tell anyone because he was afraid of what people might say. After the crucifixion, Joseph boldly goes to Pilate and asks for Christ’s body – he is no longer afraid to be associated with Jesus; he is no longer scared to be a marked man.

            Throughout this week, we may have had opportunities to witness for Christ and show others that we are Christians. Tomorrow, we will be given another occasion to show our faith at church, at home, and in our community.

How will I celebrate Easter? Am I willing to show my faith to everyone I encounter?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, as we await the light of a new Easter dawn, prepare us to be witnesses of Your Resurrection and disciples of Your ways. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Good Friday devotion: Real Heroes - 1 Samuel 31:12

1 Samuel 31:12          All their valiant men journeyed through the night to Beth Shan. They took down the bodies of Saul and his sons from the wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned them.

The last chapter of the book of 1 Samuel reveals to us the sad and ignoble end of Israel’s first King. Saul had been chosen by the reluctant prophet Samuel amidst the cheers and jubilation of the people. His reign, however, was cursed and eventually he killed himself after a fierce battle in which all of his sons were killed and his army totally defeated.

Saul’s body was taken by his enemies and cut into pieces, to be shamefully displayed by his victorious foes. It was a terrible dishonor to him and his own family. His enemies gloated over their bloody success as they gazed upon the broken and abused bodies of Saul and his unfortunate sons which were impaled on spears and tied to the city wall.

But then a wonderful and courageous thing happened. The valiant men of Saul’s own tribe went on a dangerous night mission to recover the bodies in order to give the king and his family a decent and honorable ending. This band of brave men went into the heart of their enemy’s territory and brought back the remains. It was a noble act that diminished some of the shame Saul’s people felt at this time. The fact that we have this daring deed recorded in the Bible shows how Saul’s tribe truly loved their king, even with all of his faults.

The whole incident reminds me of Christ’s crucifixion and how shamefully He was treated by His enemies. He was brutalized beyond recognition by the Roman guards. He was jeered at and taunted by the religious clergy. He was totally degraded by his public nakedness, hanging on a bloody cross for all to see. His death was not only one of the most torturous ever devised by the inhumanity of man, it was also meant to be completely shameful, ignoble, and detestable.

And then Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the clergy, valiantly steps forward to claim Christ’s body in order to put an end to His public shame. He didn't want to see Christ shamefully rot on the Cross, and even though it would have made Joseph ritually unclean during the holiest time of the Jewish year, he was still willing to bravely beg Pilate for Jesus’ corpse in order to place it in his own tomb.

There are heroes in the Bible, as well as heroes all around us. We just have to open our eyes and see those who stand against injustice, who speak for the powerless, and who seek to eradicate the shame that our society uses to subdue the weak, poor, and the voiceless in our communities and across the world. They are valiant people and deserve our praise and support.

Questions for personal reflection

Who speaks up for the poor and powerless in my community? How can I support them?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, help us to recognize the true heroes in our community, who give of their time, resources, and lives to speak up for the voiceless and speak out against injustice. Remove the prejudices against them and help us all to pray for and support them. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s recent drawings for Holy Week. It’s called “Passover Moon.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: Passover Moon.