Just Another Joe?

 
Just Another Joe? By Pastor Dan Kennedy © September 14, 2014 b www.pastorkennedy.com Have you ever met another person with the same name as yours? It makes you feel a little funny, doesn’t it? What are they like? Are they like me? What do they do? What kind of person are they? None of us are just another “John” or “Mary” or “Peter”, “Jane”, or “Joe”. God has made each of us unique and special in His sight! God Eyes search across the earth for those whose heart is toward Him. No two “Joe’s” are the same. The Scripture highlights those who are seeking God…in the midst of a world each clamoring for their own personalized agendas. Proverbs 5:21 21 For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his paths. 2 Chronicles 16:9 9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.…” Joseph Today we are going to look at someone with the name of Joseph. I know that when the name Joseph is first mentioned, many people immediately think of the Old Testament Joseph – the eleventh and favorite son of the patriarch Jacob… • The Joseph who was not only rejected and sold into Egyptian slavery by his brothers, but, • He served 7-10 years in Potiphar’s house as a slave and most likely 3-5 years in prison as a man falsely accused as a criminal. • Through the interpretation of a dream that God had given him, Joseph ascended to second in authority over the land of Egypt and saved his family, the nation of Egypt and many others from starvation through a terrible, seven-year famine. The Joseph of Genesis is a profound story, but we are not going to center on the life of that Joseph today. Joseph, Jesus’ Stepfather Another Joseph that might come to your mind is the stepfather to Jesus. • A man who we know only as “a carpenter” and the honorable and faithful husband to Mary, Jesus’ mother. Matthew 13:55a 55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? • This Joseph was a man humbled by his wife’s confounding pregnancy. • He was a man who listened to the Voice of God… o He listened to God through an angel, in accepting Christ’s birth as a supernatural virgin birth from God. o He responded in acknowledgment of God’s Voice in treating Mary with deep respect in a community, which most of whom would not understand, no matter how hard he explained, dodged, denied or gave the honest facts. The integrity of knowing what he knew to be true, and the affirmation of the God he served, with the reality of his relationship with Mary, was the genuine comfort to his soul. o Joseph heard God’s Voice by heeding the dream God gave him and by taking baby Jesus away from harms way and into a foreign land, Egypt, and settling there until God told him it was OK to return to Israel. • Joseph was a man, who we may assume, died an early death because of the lack of other references to him throughout the narratives of Jesus’ ministry years. But Joseph, Jesus’ stepfather, as honorable as he was, is not the Joseph we will focus on today. How About Joseph, the Brother of Jesus? Matthew 13:55 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? We have heard about Jesus’ skeptical brothers. John 7:1–5 7 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life. 2 But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, 3 Jesus’ brothers said to him, “You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. 4 No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For even his own brothers did not believe in him. This skepticism is one reason why I believe Jesus specifically identifies James, the second-oldest in the family, to whom Jesus revealed Himself following His resurrection… 1 Corinthians 15:3–7 3 … Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles…. There are only three fleeting references in Scripture of this Joseph, the third-born son of Mary – Jesus, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas (Matthew 13:55; 27:56; Mark 6:3). We know little more about Joseph, Jesus’ brother. Joseph, Jesus’ brother, is not the Joseph for today’s study. Joseph of Arimathea Today, let’s look at the Scripture involving Joseph of Arimathea, the Jewish Council Member, who buried Christ. Key texts about him are found in all four Gospels. Matthew 27:57–60 57 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. • “As Evening Approached”…just in the nick of time, “there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph”… No one else was there to bury Christ. The disciples had not contacted Joseph – God did. • He was rich man from the town of Arimathea with something pressing on his mind – “I’m going to give Jesus an honorable burial. He is not going to just hang on the cross for the birds to feed on and then be thrown, by the Roman soldiers into some pauper’s grave plot” (Matt. 27:57). o Why is it important to identify that this Joseph was rich? Joseph of Arimathea fulfilled prophecy about the Messiah, Jesus Christ: Isaiah 53:9 9 And they made his grave with the wicked (thieves were crucified on either side of him) and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. • He had become a disciple of Jesus (v. 57). • He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus (v. 58). • Pilate ordered Jesus’ body to be given to him (v. 58). • He took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud (v. 59). • He laid Jesus’ body in his own new tomb, which he had cut out of the rock (v. 60). • He rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb (v. 60), and left. Mark 15:42–46 42 It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45 When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Additional aspects about Joseph and his care for Jesus’ burial from Mark’s Gospel: • It was approaching evening on the day of Preparation, the day before the Passover Sabbath (Mark 15:42). o Joseph was respectful of the Sabbath during the Passover – his actions took place on evening of “the day of preparation” – in contrast to the chief priests and other council members who went to Pilate on the Sabbath of the Passover to secure a guard and to seal Jesus’ tomb, when they were shocked to find out that Jesus had actually been given a proper burial and was placed in a decent tomb which was secured by a stone which could be rolled away (Matt 27:62-66). They were probably even more shocked to find out that it was one of their own non-compliant Council members who secretly circumvented their prying eyes to give Jesus a proper burial (John 19:38)! • He was a respected and prominent member of the Jewish Council (v. 43). • He was looking for the kingdom of God (v. 43). • “Took courage” – “went boldly” to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus (v.43) • Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus had already died. He called the centurion, and asked if Jesus was dead. When the centurion confirmed Jesus’ death, he granted Jesus’ body to Joseph (v. 44-45). • When Joseph knew he could bury Jesus’ body, he went out to the market and bought a linen burial shroud for Jesus (v. 46). Luke 23:50–56 50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. 55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. • Joseph was a good and upright man (Luke 23:50). • Joseph had not consented to the Council’s decision and action to crucify Jesus (Luke 23:50). • The tomb had not been used before (v. 53). (Tombs were reused after only bones were left from decay – about two years, then Ossuary boxes were used to contain and bury the bones.) John 19:38–42 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 mixture of 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. • He feared the council, but defied their hatred of Jesus, so he took measures secretly; assuring that Jesus had a proper burial, (thus unknowingly fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy, v. 38; Is. 53:9). • Joseph enlisted the help of Nicodemus (vs. 39-42; John 3). • Nicodemus brought seventy-five pounds of myrrh and aloes to put in the linen burial cloths, to assuage the odor of death, as was Jewish custom (v. 39). • Since it was almost sunset before the Sabbath, and Joseph’s personal tomb was near, they laid Jesus there (v. 42). What kind of person was Joseph of Arimathea? • His leadership gifts had placed him in a prominent position on the Jewish Council. • He was honorable to God and righteous in his life. • He was looking for the Kingdom of God. • He was wealthy. • He had come to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. • He did not go along with, but defied what he knew was a wrong decision of the ruling religious leaders. • He followed the prompting of God even though it was well beyond his own comfort level. • He solicited the help of others so he could accomplish his committed task of burying Jesus. • He used his own funds to make sure Jesus had a proper burial – he bought the burying shroud and used the tomb he had carved out for himself. • He honored the Sabbatical laws, as he should have. • He accomplished what God wanted him to do and he went home satisfied. • Joseph of Arimathea also unknowingly fulfilled the prophecy of Scripture (Is. 53:9) about the burial of the Messiah and Redeemer of the world, by being a Godly, usable vessel for the Kingdom of His Lord! • If Joseph of Arimathea had not followed God’s promptings, there might not have been a tomb to be sealed, a stone to be rolled away, and the angelic presence in the tomb may have been in another location. Things, most likely, would have been considerably different. (Or, God would have risen up a different “Joseph”!) • If the Roman soldiers had thrown Jesus’ body in a criminal’s burial plot, the verification of Christ’s resurrection would have taken another course. • God used Joseph of Arimathea and the gift of his personal tomb in a very key roll in the authentication of the history of Christ’s Resurrection and in the history of Christianity, which Joseph would never perceive until he went to be with his Lord and Savior. • (Could the same be true with how God uses us in what He has given us to do?) We are discussing his life two thousand years after his death, and commending his forthright following of God’s promptings in his life. What a heritage! Remember what we read in Daniel 12:2-3? Daniel 12:2–3 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. Joseph of Arimathea was wise. God looked at Joseph and gave him a tough but precious assignment, which he completed. Who are we? • When God looks at our lives what does He see? • What does God have in store for a man, woman or child who is seeking Him and prepared to do His Service? What has God done for us to prepare us individually for His Service? • He has given those who Believe in Him the “right” to become Children of God! John 1:11–13 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. Romans 8:16–17 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. • He keeps us from Anxiety through His Care Matthew 6:31–34 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Philippians 4:6–7 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. • God Gives us Peace, when we Trust in Him Isaiah 26:3–4 3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. 4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. John 14:27 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. • God Gives us Power from His Holy Spirit to Serve Him Effectively Acts 1:8 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” • We Don’t even have to Fear Death itself. There are two references in the New Testament about God knowing each sparrow, and Him knowing the numbers of the hairs on our head. Jesus spoke these concepts first to encourage His 12 disciples as they were sent out with God’s Truth to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10), to share the Gospel in unknown situations and potentially hazardous circumstances. The second was when he was dealing with the confusion, lies and outright threats on His life from the religious Pharisees influencing His disciples. Luke 12:4–7 4 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. God knows exactly who we are. We are not, “Just another Joe” to God. We are as purposeful and unique just as… • Jacob’s son Joseph in the Old Testament; • Joseph, Mary’s husband and Jesus’ stepfather; • Joseph, Jesus’ brother; and • Joseph of Arimathea. May we love the Lord, seek the Lord and serve the Lord with all our hearts! And God will use us to build His Kingdom and bring others to know Him. One day those who honorably and wisely serve God will SHINE! http://www.pastorkennedy.comshapeimage_1_link_0