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JOSEPH AND JESUS (LUKE 23:50-56)

REFLECTION

Our reflection is on Joseph and Jesus. Jesus died as a criminal, but Joseph gave him a befitting and dignified burial. We shall reflect on the fact that a believer must have a good conscience, integrity, and perseverance to do what is right even in a corrupt and unjust system.

Beloved in the Lord, irrespective of the fact that the Council of the Jewish leaders were corrupt and unjust in dealing with Jesus, we are told, there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. (Luke 23:50-51). Joseph represents a minority of people in religious and political governance and leadership who are good and upright and therefore have good conscience and integrity in dealing with issues. Although, Joseph who was also waiting for the Kingdom of God may not have seen Jesus as the Messiah but perhaps a prophet of God, he did not support the sinister or evil decisions and actions of the Council. It is important to note that the Council was made of highly respected religious leaders in society including the High Priest yet they were corrupt and unjust in their dealings. However, Joseph of Arimathea maintained his uprightness and therefore was a man of good conscience and integrity. Beloved in the Lord, the fact that you belong to a group of people who possess the power to determine the fate and direction of people, a nation, a society and a church does not mean that you must follow all their decisions and actions. We must be guided by the Scripture, the Holy Spirit, good conscience, a sense of justice and respect for human dignity in all our dealings as leaders and for that matter, believers. We must never lose our uprightness, good conscience and integrity because of power. We are greatly admonished by the Psalmist to be upright and do what is right always when he says “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.” (Psalms 1:1-3) Let us strive to do what is right and just always in pleasing the Lord even in a corrupt and unjust system governed by the wicked.

Again, as an upright person who has a good conscience and a sense of justice and respect for human dignity, Joseph of Arimathea took it upon himself to give Jesus a befitting and dignified burial, therefore, “Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. 55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it”. (Luke 23:52-55) We imagine how disturbed Joseph of Arimathea felt throughout Jesus’ unjust trial and suffering. We can imagine the guilt and sleepless nights he might have experienced through the period. If there is one thing that will give him peace of mind and fulfilment, it is giving Jesus a befitting and dignified burial. Joseph was truly an upright and good man. He felt compelled to do something for this innocent man who did nothing but preach about the Kingdom of God. He felt an obligation to give Jesus a befitting burial because he knew Jesus was innocent and did nothing wrong. If Joseph had the power the Chief Priest had, Jesus would not have been unjustly tried and made to go through such painful agony and disgraceful death. Dear friend, although Joseph could not save Jesus from his agony and death, he ensured that Jesus got a befitting and dignified burial as a very important person. Beloved in the Lord, you may also feel powerless in an unjust and corrupt system but all that is required of you is to do your best in any way you can to demonstrate your uprightness, good conscience and integrity. Let us learn to identify with people who are victims of injustice and abuse of political and ecclesiastical power. We may not be able to stop evil but we can encourage and identify with victims of evil. We may not have the resources and the support to overcome evil sometimes, especially when the evil is being carried out by people who ought to be custodians of justice but we can brighten the corner where we are by doing what is fair and just.

In summary, we have discovered that a believer must be a person of good conscience, integrity and strife to do what is right even in a corrupt and unjust system. Shalom.

PRAYER

May the Holy Spirit strengthen us to remain upright in a corrupt and unjust world. May the Holy Spirit help us to do our best in identifying with victims of injustice and abuse of power even as persevere to please God. Amen.