Come Out, Come out Wherever You 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 Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.”

John 19:34-42

The ‘secret’ disciples Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimethea sometimes take heat from others for not being ‘public’ with their faith.

Yet they both took the lead at Jesus’ death when Peter, James, John and the rest went into hiding.

They certainly went ‘public’ to ask for the body of Jesus, then preparing it for burial and finally, in providing the garden tomb.

Certainly God knew that had the twelve tried to take his body the

‘they made it look like He resurrected’ conspirators would have clamored even more than they already had.

No, God kept them in ‘hiding’ for the time that they would be called upon to publicly identify with Jesus.

And when that time came, they certainly did!

When the twelve went into hiding they came out of hiding.

Because Gods’ purposes would need to be fulfilled!

They were used by God and blessed by Him for their courage and willingness to publicly declare their love for Him.

Is it time for you to come out of hiding?