PPic: Oberon Golf Course - Links Pro Am 2006

PGA Chaplain Bible Studies

Study Thirty Three Sept 8th to 15th 2008.
Reading – John Chapter 19:38-42.

“Knowing who your real friends are!”

“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 away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus by night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with spices, in strips of linen." John Chapter 19: verses 38 to 42. (New International Version).

The dedication of carers to family members and friends of the sick is truly inspirational sometimes. The ability to give expecting nothing in return is a sign of true love and mateship that we value so much in Australia. It is true that you often only find out who your true friends are when you really need them.

In our reading this week we find two such friends of Jesus. Jesus has been crucified and two men seek to give some dignity to removing the body of Jesus and resting him in a grave.
Joseph of Arimathea was a member of the Sanhedrin, the highest ruling body among Jews in Jerusalem. He was also rich and dissented from the decision of the council to condemn Jesus. He was a follower of Jesus in secret because he feared his fellow Jews who were opposed to Jesus.
Nicodemus we know of from earlier in John’s account of the life of Jesus. He also was most likely a member of the Sanhedrin. In John Chapter 3 Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night and gives Jesus a compliment by acknowledging that God must be with him since no one could do the things he was doing unless God was with him. Jesus goes on to open Nicodemus eyes to the need to be born again or from above to see the work God is doing through Jesus. Over time Nicodemus came to believe in Jesus as God’s Son and was truly born again.
Attending to Jesus’ body after his death was a real sign of devotion from Nicodemus and Joseph. The Romans did not permit a decent burial for those condemned to death by crucifixion and it was common their bodies were left for vultures. Families could make an appeal for their bodies to the authorities and Joseph does this as an act of courage.
Jesus body was taken by Joseph, wrapped in linen and spices prepared by Nicodemus according to Jewish customs and eventually placed in a new tomb in a garden near Jerusalem. This was done quickly since their day of rest was fast approaching.

This is the kind of friendship and mateship that God looks for in us. This is the kind of love we should have of Jesus who died for us. This is the kind of mateship we should have for every human being on our planet. It’s the kind of love God has for us.

We all have family and friends who lose their loved one’s and friends through death from sickness, old age, suicide and accidents. To be there when everyone else has gone, offering practical help, gives great support to those grieving.

We now love and serve a living Jesus who rose from the dead.

Prayer
Great God and Father, thank you for those who are able to give without expecting anything in return. Help us to be like that. Amen.

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