작성일 : 24-03-29 03:03
|
2024년3월24일 English Sermon "Joseph Of Arimathea And Nicodemus" John's Gospel 19:30-42
|
|
|
글쓴이 :
최고관리자
 조회 : 36
|
Sermon English Text AKFPC / March 24, 2024 Rev. Yongjin Park
“Joseph Of Arimathea And Nicodemus” (John’s Gospel 19:30-42)
May the grace and love of God is upon you who is listening God’s voice today in this worship.
Blood type was a typical standard to recognizing characteristics of a person. Now is MBTI type as that place. Persons have various types of characteristics as ISTJ or ESTJ which means they have various responses or concerns on certain issues.
These types help us understand others and their various responses in relationship. it might be tool to embrace others and differences.
In faith life there are several types of characteristics to serve God and others. Some have fast passion while others slow but deep passion. They are all used by God for kingdom of God together according to situation.
Today we see Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus in Bible.
They are slow passion but deep faith to God
Let us read together John's Gospel 19:38-42,
"Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was disciple of Jesus, But secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy five rounds. Taking Jesus’s body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there."
Arimathea's Joseph and Nicodemus was member of Sanhedrin which was congressmen of Jews. These lawmakers sentenced to death on Jesus Christ. But two were against their decision to kill Jesus. Two men did not have power to stop their unjust doing. They took care of body of Christ after crucifixion instead.
Jews asked Pilate pulling down body of dead men due to great Holidays of Jews. Then Joseph asked bravely Pilate body of Jesus dead. Pilate gave body to him due to his social position as congressman. Nicodemus brought big amount of myrrh and aloe for burial custom on Jesus. Two of them wrapped and stripped the body of Jesus and placed him in new tomb of Joseph.
Even disciples could not do that due to fear of Jews but two of them did for Jesus and accomplished prophet of old testament saying Christ buried in new tomb.
Two of them were hidden disciple but did not present themselves in public due to fear from Jews as other disciples did. But when Jesus Christ was crucified on the Calvary, they recognized He was real Christ as he told. They confessed in public Jesus is Lord as action to bury the body of Christ. They are leaders and elite of their society.
They began later but kept their faith firmly as leaders.
This shows how elites or leader serve God. They have influence in their society and they hesitated to show their faith in public because they worried to lose their position. But after seeing Jesus' crucifixion and the power of blood of Jesus Christ they became the brave believers.
God used them for their kingdom and protector of church and people of God.
It is not easy for everyone to stand certain side. It might be persecuted or lost valuables of themselves. But after confirming steadfast love of God they could stand in public Jesus' side. They did straightly to serve God and church till gaining purpose of faith that they set.
Nicodemus visited one night Jesus asking how can I be saved. Jesus answered him to born again and Jesus said that he himself will be lifted up for salvation of all human as sacrifice.
John's Gospel 3:14-16 says,
"No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven, the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall perish but have eternal life."
If everyone like Peter, who can serve to bury body of Christ after crucifixion. Peter loved as well Jesus but he has not braved to do it. Later Peter became brave servant to overcome all fear and persecution for kingdom of God. He spent all energy of his life to deliver gospel of Jesus Christ. He did not fear any more in accomplishing his mission from the Lord.
This is miracle and power of Holy Spirit to change life of human.
Brothers and sisters in the Lord,
In spite of our weaknesses God always uses us to do for His great goal to save this world.
When Holy Spirit comes to us we can be changed from the weak to the brave.
Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus hesitated between the world and God as well. They worried to lose what they had but once they saw blood of Jesus Christ shed on cross for us they were changed to be strong and faithful servant of God.
The power of blood of Jesus Christ has true power to change life of any persons. When we feel fear we do not want to avoid our responsibility.
But we feel the power of blood of Jesus Christ which saves life from all sins, we can be grown to take our accountability before God. This is real power of Holy Spirit working within us.
Matthew 27:54 says,
"When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God."
The Cross is the power to change hearts of all people. Let us grasp the power of the Cross and lean on the work of blood of Jesus Christ to save al souls.
One faithful lady has been suffered from cancers for some years. He has endured the healing process by faith to God. She finally overcame the dieses and recovered successfully from it. She confessed that Lord has been with me in painful recovery process as surgery. She said it was very powerful and so comforted for her to read and to meditate Bible verses about blood of Jesus Christ.
The power of blood of Jesus Christ healed me. She confessed, Blood of Christ is my song and my praise.
I Peter 1:18-19 says,
"For you know it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defeat."
Let us see our Lord Jesus Christ and his blood to shed for us. All salvation comes from Him only.
God be with all of you, Amen.
|
|
