Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder
Be With Me is a daily 7 minute chronological walk through the New Testament hosted by Michael Smith. It is for everyone who is curious about what Jesus actually said and did in the gospels. Most episodes will leave you with at least one good thought to chew on for the rest of the day. We start with the Bible and hopefully end with Awe. We are walking through the chronological events of Jesus' life and then thoughtfully considering them. It is meant to spur the devotional life of the Christian and the not-yet-Christian. We occasionally venture into the Old Testament when it helps our understanding of the New Testament events. Everybody has 7 minutes. Everybody needs to wonder. Be With Me is hosted by Michael Smith who has absolutely no special qualifications to do a podcast. He is not a pastor. He has not been to seminary. He does not lead a mega-church. He is not a professional and he has no more credentials than you do. He does, however, follow a great God with an observant eye and a curious heart. Each day, he starts with a study bible and aims for astonishment. ‘be with him’ for 7 minutes as he sets out daily to discover the God who invites us to ‘Be With Me.’
Be With Me: 7 Minutes of Biblical Wonder
When do SECRET CHRISTIANS blow their cover? S28e157 Jn19:38
There comes a time when SECRET Christians stop being so secret. It happens with Joseph of Arimathea at the cross. He blows his cover in a great act of courage and service to the body of Jesus. He changes his identity from a secret Christian to a scared Christian. I’m not sure I know any believers who aren’t occasionally scared.
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When do SECRET CHRISTIANS blow their cover? S28e157 Jn19:38
The good guys at the cross were mostly women
Highlighted Mary mag, but there were others
She was with Jesus ministering to Him BEFORE during, after
She showed up. She ministered. She was faithful. She was generous. She was thankful.
To such come the resurrection in a special way.
Gotta go thru the cross to experience the resurrection
The road to the resurrection goes thru the crucifixion
To get to Easter Sunday it is best to pause at Good Friday
Let’s look at the last hour of Good Friday. It is the preparation day
Preparation for the Sabbath which starts on sundown Friday
When do SECRET CHRISTIANS blow their cover? Where? Cross.
Jesus said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.His side pierced
Jn19:38 38 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. So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixtureof myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.
There comes a time when secret disciples blow their cover
Welcome to Joseph of Arimathea.
6 or so hours earlier, everybody was in a killing mood. Swords arrests, binding, leading away. Abandonment,interrogations, accusations, mocking, scourging,condemning to death. Disciples were literelly fleeing for their lives. Mark runs away naked. Peter is deathly afraid—rightly so-- of a servant girls accusations
Two night-disciples become day-disciples on the darkest day
Matt adds: Joseph was RICH, the tomb was HEWN, cut into rock, not a natural cave, it was for HIM His own new tomb and he rolled a great stone. Too big to carry. MaryMag and the other mary. DISCIPLE of J.
MARK adds that Jos was a respected member of the ruling council
Who was looking for the kingdom of God. Some point disciple
Took COURAGE and WENT to pilate to ask for the body of Jesus
Pilate summons the centurion, newest Christian in Jerusalem
GRANTED the corpse: Was Pilates to do with in life, or death
Apparently, Joseph found what he was seeking. Kingdom, King
Votes with his courage, his intent, his decision
Votes with his feet and mouth 1.courage2.went3. spoke 4. joins
Votes with his friend: Nicodemus!
How do we know Joe was a disciple? Mt tells us. His feet tonge tell us
Conclusion
If you are seeking the kingdom of God and the truth,
you have come to the right place—that’s how Jos started looking for kingdom; looking for a king
If you are a secret disciple you are welcome at the cross
If you are a scared disciple, you are welcome at the cross
Exposure to the reality of the cross is where disciples are made
It is were seekers can become see-ers
It is were secret disciples become scared disciples
The cross changed 4 things for Joseph
Use his power differently—rather than just be a respected representative of the sanhedrion, he identifies with Jesus and asks for the body of Jesus. Imagine: I am asking for the body of Jesus
He doesn’t know that he will be mentioned for all time, doesn’t know if he’ll live until dinner
Use his wealth differently—this was my tomb. BOUGHT a linen shroud.Using resources for God
Use his fellowship differently—this is a community activity. The body of Christ does best, often in tragedy, difficulty, grief. Nic, other Mary mother of Joses and mary mag
Use his courage differently—goes from NOT using it to using it
If you were accused of being a Christian would there be evidence to convict you?
For Peter there was. And he ran away
For Joseph there wasn’t yet, he was secret disciple.
Perhaps if you’ve been a secret disciple time to become a scared dis
I’m not sure I know any believers who aren’t occasionally scared
We’re still human in hostile world, and we’re now representing
If you are a scared disciple, use the fear differently.
Take courage and go. Take courage and ask. Take courage and fellowship. Take courage and give generously.
Like Jos: secret Christian? Should be no such thing. Take courage and Go.
If you are stuck at SECRET Christian, go to the crosss. It changes everything. It changes SECRET Christians to SCARED Christians.
If you are a scared Christian, you are probably right where you should be.