Welcome!
Date: Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Today: A volunteer of the gospel
Passage: Matt 27: 57-58 KJV
57When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: 58He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
We see two people who were not among the twelve, playing significant roles in connection with the crucifixion of Jesus
The first one is Simon of Cyrene, the second one is Joseph of Arimathaea
32And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. (Mt. 27: 32 – KJV)
Now, Simon from Cyrene, Africa, was forced to carry the cross of Jesus
Joseph of Arimathaea, on the other hand, volunteered to go and beg Pilate for the body of Jesus
The custom of the day, was to leave the body of a crucified person on the cross itself and have the birds and other animals feed on it. There was no official burial given, which would show respect towards the crucified
Joseph of Arimathaea, who also himself was a disciple of Jesus, (not one of the twelve) showed boldness to go alone and ask for Jesus’ body
He did not ask, “why not one of the twelve disciples do it?”
It was two “strangers” who got involved when those who were very much with Jesus kept their “safe” distance from the cross
We don’t need a “title” to do what God expects us to do
When a good number of “Christians” are “done” with the church, God is preparing a whole new generation of people for himself. He is calling people from the streets, for the wedding feast
As you look at those serving the Lord today, we can see these two categories of people – those who have been “compelled” by Jesus, and those who volunteered to do the work of a disciple
Both get the rewards for their service to God
Yesterday was “Memorial day” in the US-remembering the soldiers who gave up their lives in the service of the nation
Among those veterans also, we can see these two types of people-those who were “forced” to join because of various circumstances, and those who just volunteered on their own
Whatever be the way in which they became a soldier, their lives became a sacrifice, as they fought for the nation
They spared the lives of thousands of people by sacrificing their own lives
If Jesus was not willing to die for us, we would have been the loosers – not Jesus. He had no pressure to do so; he just volunteered
Yet Jesus willingly gave himself up to come down and be slaughtered on the cross. He saved us from the hand of the enemy
What is our response to the cross?
Are we going to volunteer for Him, or wait for our “emergency call?”
May God speak
To be workers in the vineyard of the King of Kings is the greatest privilege anyone can have
Apostle Paul was one of the best of such workers, even as he was working hard with his hands doing tent-making, to support himself
There is never a surplus -always a demand only for workers, in God’s kingdom
God bless, as we make our decisions
BG