There is a great temptation to tone down our Christianity out of fear of what others will think of us. Or the fear of what will happen to our standing. Joseph was a prominent member of the council of seventy (Mark 15:43). He was one who was honoured and respected; his opinion mattered. He stood to lose that. There is also the fear of what it will cost us—Joseph was rich, rich enough to have a brand new tomb in an exclusive district of Jerusalem. All this would go if anyone knew he was a follower of Jesus—his life and business ruined. 

It would be easy to bemoan the state of the world in which we live. 2019 was a year of momentous change with the introduction of abortion in Ireland and in Northern Ireland, and also with the redefining of marriage in Northern Ireland. Add to that the pressures which both of these events place on Christians in affected professions, and especially on our young people in schools and colleges. The world around us increasingly wants Christians to keep their opinions to themselves, and more, to conform to its opinion—no dissent is tolerated.

It would be easy to talk incessantly about the encroaching darkness, about discouragement—even sermons equipping us to live in these ‘dark days’ can unhelpfully frame the scene—but Jesus Christ is on the throne and has sovereignly ordained that we live at this time and in these circumstances, for his glory. And he is the one orchestrating all things for the good of his church. This is His time for us.

So what sort of people ought we to be? I have been thinking over an unlikely figure in recent weeks: Joseph of Arimathea. He has much to teach us for life in the 21st century.

A warning – Don’t be an undercover Christian

John 19:38 records: “Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews.”

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