How can Joseph's example guide us in making difficult moral decisions? Setting the Scene Joseph of Arimathea steps onto the stage at the darkest moment—Jesus has just died, the disciples have scattered, and the public mood is hostile. Into that tension Luke notes: Key Verse “Now there was a Council member named Joseph, a good and righteous man” (Luke 23:50). Joseph’s Character on Display • Member of the Sanhedrin—yet not swept along by the Council’s verdict (Luke 23:51). • “Good and righteous”—God’s Word gives him that endorsement, so his choices matter. • “Waiting for the kingdom of God” (Luke 23:51)—his hope shaped his actions, not the crowd. • Took visible, costly action: “He went to Pilate to ask for Jesus’ body” (Luke 23:52). Guidelines for Our Difficult Moral Decisions 1. Ground every choice in God’s revealed truth • Joseph had been trained in Scripture; he recognized Jesus as Messiah. • Psalm 119:105—“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” • When decisions press in, first question: What has God already said? 2. Refuse to follow a sinful consensus • Luke 23:51—Joseph “had not consented to their plan and action.” • Exodus 23:2—“You shall not follow a crowd in wrongdoing.” • Majority opinion never overrules God’s standard. 3. Act with visible integrity, not hidden agreement • Mark 15:43—he “boldly went to Pilate.” • Matthew 5:16—let good works be seen, pointing to the Father. • Silence can imply approval; righteous action must step into daylight. 4. Accept personal cost for righteous choices • Handling a crucified body risked ceremonial defilement and political fallout. • Philippians 1:29—“For it has been granted to you…to suffer for Him.” • The will of God is sometimes expensive, but always worth it. 5. Keep eternity in view • Joseph’s hope in the kingdom propelled him. • Colossians 3:2—“Set your minds on things above.” • Decisions look different when the kingdom is the ultimate reference point. Practical Steps for Today • Before deciding, open the Bible and pray for illumination; let Scripture speak first. • Identify the pressures—peer, cultural, financial—and name them. Like Joseph, refuse any that contradict God’s word. • Seek wise, godly counsel (Proverbs 11:14), not merely popular voices. • Take the righteous path promptly; delay feeds fear. • Trust God with the consequences—He raised Jesus, and He honors faithful obedience (1 Samuel 2:30). Invitation to Action Look at the cross, remember Joseph’s bold love, and choose the path that aligns with God’s unchanging Word—even when it costs, even when you stand alone. |
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