Of Arithmetic

03.08.13

Mark 15.43 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. (ESV)

These were turbulent times in Judea: a recent insurrection had occurred and there was much unrest in this unruly and difficult part of the Roman Empire; you might say, a bad taste was left in everyone’s mouth. A series of Roman procurators had come and gone and the latest was a mean-spirited weasel named Pontius Pilate – a bureaucrat consummate. So, for Someone to come proclaiming Himself to be the King of the Jews – well that was just too much for everybody. The Romans were uneasy and the Jews were equally nervous: the whole apple cart was poised to be upset.

And so with this in mind, I caught the word Peter used in describing Joseph’s actions when he went to Pilate to ask for Jesus’ body after the crucifixion: Joseph of Arimathea…took courage and…asked for the body of Jesus.

Joseph wasn’t just some Joe, he was a respected member of the council – a highly regarded voice when the Jews got together to sort things out. But Joseph was wise and understood the times – he also understood that Jesus was more than most thought Him to be – especially the Jewish and Roman authorities. Joseph knew – it all added up: somebody had to do something so…he did.

John says of Joseph: After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. (John 19.38 ESV) John knew that Joseph knew that anyone who did anything for Jesus would be suspected (by both the Romans and the Jews) of being a sympathizer of this King of the Jews.

It added up to Joseph, who protested their treatment of Jesus. It added up to Joseph, that someone needed to show some courage and show some respect. And again, Joseph of Arithmetic did just that – he added it all up, took courage, and did something.

In our country and culture today, God is calling those who will do the math and accept His call to tell others about Him. God is calling those who will take courage in the face of an ever-increasingly hostile culture to take courage and stand for Him. Taking a stand for the King of the Jews today is going to get about as much acceptance as it did back then in a society that wants politics and government to solve all their problems and treat them fairly; governments don’t work that way – they never have. God is calling those of Arithmetic to stand and be counted for Him.

I am to live this day being counted for God and to turn my back on all that isn’t of Him. I am called to be holy (other) as He is Holy (Other) and to take courage to stand against all this world offers but cannot deliver.  Father, I ask for courage today to make the stand, and to give all of who I am into Your faithful hand – Amen.