God's Secret Agent
Notes
Transcript
Joseph and Nicodemus
Joseph and Nicodemus
We are going to look at these 2 men in 3 different lights
Saved, secret and finally showing themselves
Saved, and planning for the death of Jesus
unsaved, but want to to do good followers of Jesus
They are doing what God has planned for them to do
but what is their motivation
We don’t know, so we can only theorize
what do we know about these men
Joseph of Arimathea
Mark 15:43 (LEB)
Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the council who was also himself looking forward to the kingdom of God, came acting courageously and went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
From Arimathea
prominent member of the Sanhedrin
waiting for the Messiah
Courage to ask Pilate (which is not done)
(this man was not consenting to their plan and deed), from Arimathea, a Judean town, who was looking forward to the kingdom of God.
Did not vote for the crucifixion of Jesus
Or just stayed silent
And behold, a man named Joseph, who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man
A good man
not like the rest of the Sanhedrin
Nicodemus
Nicodemus came to Jesus and they talked about being born again
one of the Sanhedrin
Nicodemus, the one who came to him previously—who was one of them—said to them, “Our law does not condemn a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing, does it?” They answered and said to him, “You are not also from Galilee, are you? Investigate and see that a prophet does not arise from Galilee!” ⟦
Sticking up for Jesus in the council
In these verses we see all we are going to know about their back ground
Read John 19 38
Pray
Jesus is Buried
Jesus is Buried
V 38 Joseph asked for the body from Pilate
V 39 Nicodemus brought 100 lb of spices, enough for a Kingly burial
V 40 wrapped Jesus in spices and linens
V 41 Garden tomb right at the crucifixion site
V 42 needed to get Him in the ground quickly
It was the providence of God that these two men were to be the ones to bury Him
God prepared these 2
they were to fulfill prophecy
Isaiah 53:9 (LEB)
He made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death,
Secret Believers Stepping Up
Secret Believers Stepping Up
because of their prominent position
Nicodemus came by night
Yet despite that, even many of the rulers believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be expelled from the synagogue. For they loved the praise of men more than praise from God.
they were cowards afraid of standing up for Jesus
they were afraid of confessing Jesus to the world
that if you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation.
“Therefore everyone who acknowledges me before people, I also will acknowledge him before my Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies me before people, I also will deny him before my Father who is in heaven.
these two men have they finally got the courage to do for Jesus- now that He is dead
Better late than never?
if we do not stand up for Jesus we are not any better than Pilate...
Saved And Planning For Jesus Death
Saved And Planning For Jesus Death
they believed that Jesus was the Messiah
but because of fear...
then one day Nicodemus was defending Jesus...
They answered and said to him, “You are not also from Galilee, are you? Investigate and see that a prophet does not arise from Galilee!” ⟦
Investigate...
The Holy Spirit working in their heart. brought these men together
motivated them to learn as much as they could about Jesus from the scriptures
Is 53 the suffering servant
Daniel 9 messiah will be cut off, at Passover, what year
John 3 Jesus said to Nicodemus that he would be lifted up
Jesus planting the seed in him, that would result in what Nick does at the burial
they realize that time will be of the essence for burial
Joseph has a tomb dug near the place of execution
Nicodemus buys the spices and linen
everything is ready at the tomb on the day of execution
waiting for the King to enter
And the Third scenario
Unsaved But Wanted To Do Something Good
Unsaved But Wanted To Do Something Good
nothing tells us that these two were believers
they saw an injustice and wanted to sort of make things right
they did this as trying to work their way into Heaven
I did this for Jesus that should give me some points
I’m going to church putting money into the plate
gone to church their whole lives
Sunday School teacher
good works here and there
Every day people are trying to tilt the scales in their direction
trying to please God
Hebrews 11:5–6 (LEB)
By faith Enoch was taken up, so that he did not experience death, and he was not found, because God took him up. For before his removal, he had been approved as having been pleasing to God. Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and is a rewarder of those who seek him.
being a disciple does not automatically make you a believer
ask Judas
being used by God for His purpose does not make us a believer
ask Pilate
do you see your self in one of these 3 scenarios
a believer but a secret believer
the love you claim for Jesus, how is it showing?
and if a secret believer, am I a true believer?
or a believer in an underground church
who does what God wants
using your resources for the glory of God
stepping up when the time comes without any reservations
trusting in God for the outcome
or are you trying to come to God
in your own power, and resources
you are still damned to an eternity in hell
these men did what they did.
we know that it was the Providence of God that they did it
buy why we don’t know
but if you are a believer, a child of God, Saved
we will know
Behold, I tell you a mystery: we will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For it is necessary for this perishable body to put on incorruptibility, and this mortal body to put on immortality.
Thus also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruptibility. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
we will know all, our knowledge will be perfect