Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus at the Burial of Jesus
I. Before the death of Jesus, the two rulers here named had been His secret disciples. They were no worse than multitudes are who pass as irreproachable. There may be, in the world of rank and fashion, many a man whom Christ has called to be a disciple, but who is ashamed of his order, and who is only a disciple secretly. Many a man who would be willing to ride after Christ to the sound of applause, or to speak for Christ before an attentive and appreciative audience, is now a disciple indeed, but secretly. You know, perhaps, many a Christian, loud in profession, great in repute, who, had he lived in the days of the Incarnation with only his present measure of spiritual strength, would have received from the Divine pen no nobler notice than this a disciple of Jesus, but secretly. How would it have been with you? How is it with you now?
II. The death of Jesus roused the two secret disciples to declare themselves. A Christian will not keep his secret long. Grace is not a treasure to be hid in the earth in the midst of the tent. Sometimes, indeed, a seed may be dropped in some deep furrow, where the clods harden over it; and it is there, a seed, but secretly, until a tearing storm fetches it out into light. Sometimes a Christian may be like that seed, and a storm of trouble may be needed to reveal him. At the crucifixion of Christ, such a storm burst upon these two disciples. It revealed to their own minds their sin, and it brought out their hidden love. The heroism of faith is almost always kindled by desperate circumstances. The heroism of Joseph began in Christ's hour of darkness. He knew what the rulers meant to do, and when summoned in that hour to take His place with them at the trial, he might have kept away, so that after the black deed was done he might have said, "I was not there." But he went and boldly protested against the decision of the majority. No sooner was all over than, all on fire with indignant sorrow, he went in boldly unto Pilate and craved the body of Jesus. His brave deed was successful. At the same time, it kindled similar courage in the heart of Nicodemus. They had often met in the high places of life, each knowing the other had faith in Christ that he was ashamed to profess; they now met at the cross, as at the altar of decision; the secret was out; and while the sky is blue, while the grass is green, and while the snow is white, what they did shall be told of them for a memorial.
C. Stanford, From Calvary to Olivet,p. 1.
References: John 19:38-42. Homiletic Quarterly,vol. i., p. 367. John 19:39. Clergyman's Magazine,vol. ii., pp. 16, 211. Joh 19:40, John 19:41. Plain Sermons by Contributors to "Tracts for the Times,"vol. ix., p. 111. Joh 19:41. J. M. Neale, Sermons in a Religious House,2nd series, vol. i., p. 221; Christian World Pulpit,vol. vi., p. 127; G. T. Coster, Ibid.,vol. xii., p. 179.