How can we honor Christ's sacrifice in our daily lives, as seen here? Setting the Scene “ So they took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in linen cloths with the spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews.” (John 19:40) Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea step forward when most disciples are in hiding. Their quiet, costly devotion shines as a living commentary on how to honor the Lamb who was slain. What Their Actions Reveal • Reverence — treating Jesus’ body with utmost dignity. • Courage — identifying with Him publicly, even when risky. • Generosity — providing expensive myrrh, aloes, and new linens. • Prompt obedience — acting immediately, despite late hour and looming Sabbath. Translating Their Example into Everyday Life 1. Reverence in Worship • Guard undistracted time with the Lord (Psalm 29:2). • Approach the gathered church as holy ground (Hebrews 10:25). 2. Courageous Identification • Confess Christ openly at work and in friendships (Matthew 10:32). • Refuse compromise even when culture pressures silence (Acts 5:29). 3. Sacrificial Generosity • Give firstfruits of income, time, and abilities (Proverbs 3:9). • Meet believers’ practical needs, mirroring their burial gifts (1 John 3:17). 4. Caring for Christ’s Body, the Church • Encourage, restore, and protect fellow believers (Ephesians 4:29). • Serve in unnoticed roles, knowing He sees (Colossians 3:23-24). 5. Offering Our Own Bodies • “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1). • Pursue purity; our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). 6. Bearing the Fragrance of Christ • Live so that “we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:14-15). • Let words and deeds spread the scent of grace, kindness, and truth (Ephesians 5:2). Daily Habits That Echo the Burial Spices • Begin and end the day thanking Him for the cross. • Memorize key gospel verses to keep His sacrifice fresh. • Fast periodically, allowing hunger to sharpen gratitude. • Write notes of encouragement as “linen wraps” for weary saints. • Purposefully seek someone to serve in secret, mirroring Joseph’s quiet kindness. Living in the Shadow of the Cross Every choice—how we spend, speak, serve, and suffer—can be wrapped around the memory of Calvary. When care, courage, and costly love mark ordinary moments, we echo the honor Joseph and Nicodemus offered on that first Good Friday. In doing so, we proclaim, day after day, that Jesus Christ is worthy. |
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