Joseph of Arimathea and the Cost of Obedience

Joseph of Arimathea took down a corpse. His hands were sticky with blood and the skin was cold. He touched death, held it, and wrapped it. In doing so, he became ceremonially unclean during the Passover. He did this for a dead man. Most Christians miss the gravity of this act. Joseph was a wealthy man and a respected member of the Sanhedrin. Passover was only three hours away, yet he climbed Golgotha anyway. Jewish law stated that touching a dead body rendered a man unclean for seven days. He could not worship or enter the temple. Joseph knew this, but he climbed the hill because Jesus remained on the cross. The crowds had dispersed and the soldiers were finished, leaving Joseph to approach Pilate for permission to take the body. Once granted, he had to perform the grim task himself. He climbed the ladder and pulled the nails. He felt the weight of God in his arms with the blood still wet, staining his expensive robes and skin. This is what obedience looks like. It is messy, expensive, and permanent. Nicodemus, another secret disciple and member of the Sanhedrin, joined him. He brought seventy-five pounds of myrrh and aloes, a massive investment equivalent to roughly 150,000 dollars today. These men were cowards until this moment, but they found their courage when it seemed far too late. They had only three hours before the Sabbath. As the sun set, Joseph was officially unclean. He sacrificed his ceremonial purity, his participation in the Passover, and his reputation. He risked his position in the Sanhedrin and his safety from the Romans. Most importantly, Joseph did not act because he expected a resurrection. He acted because Jesus deserved honor even in death. He did not seek a reward. He simply showed love for a corpse. Modern Christianity often pursues clean, safe obedience that avoids personal cost. Joseph shows us that true discipleship gets your hands dirty. He did not wait for a convenient opportunity. He climbed the hill when others walked away. He missed the holiest day of his life to honor someone the world labeled a criminal. Three days later, that tomb was empty. Joseph thought he was burying a body, but he was actually setting the stage for the resurrection. God uses your messy obedience even when you cannot see the outcome. You must ask yourself what you are avoiding because it is inconvenient. What grave are you unwilling to give? Joseph held death in his arms, got blood on his hands, and lost his status. In return, his name was immortalized in all four Gospels. Religion tells you to stay clean. Discipleship tells you to get dirty. Choose wisely. #MoreJoyMinistries