Good Friday. Oh how terrible, how horrific beyond imagining this Good Friday for the sinless Son of God. Yet how beautiful, how wondrous beyond all hoping this Good Friday for the sinful souls of mankind. There simply are no words for all He endured for us and all He accomplished for us.
But as I try to peer into the gloom and glory of that good and horrible day, the vision of a small, simple chapel comes to mind. It's located in the beautiful National Cathedral in Washington, DC. The cathedral itself is truly magnificent--rainbow-colored stained glass windows that paint the floors in washes of color, soaring flying buttresses, honey-colored stone and marble cut in impossibly delicate patterns, life-like statues...it's just spectacular.
Yet, that glorious upper floor is not my favorite part. Not by a long shot. You have to go down, way down, into the bowels of the cathedral, down the steep stairs. Down, down--isn't that always the way to ultimate joy and contentment--down on our knees, down in humility, down in obedience, down in relinquishment, down to serve others rather than self?
Down there you'd find a small chapel with no brightly-colored stained glass windows...nor any windows at all, for that matter. No high ceilings that draw your sight ever up. No intricate carvings.
Nope, to get there you have to go down again...down more stairs into The Chapel of St. Joseph of Arimathea. As I recall, the chapel has two entrances opposite one another--and both lead to stairs that go down into the chapel. Surely it's to remind you of a crypt, a burial place. No ornamentation of any kind...save a magnificent mosaic across the whole front wall. But oh my, what a mosaic for it depicts Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus preparing the body of the Lord Jesus for burial in Joseph's tomb.
How I love that moment. For you see Joseph and Nicodemus had both failed Jesus mightily during His lifetime. Nicodemus and Joseph were both members of the Council--the one that tried and condemned Jesus. You remember Nicodemus was the one who earlier came to Jesus secretly at night--old Nic didn't want to risk anyone seeing him visiting Jesus. Too much to lose for Nic--so he hid. But what about now?
We're told in John 19:38-40: "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. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about 75 pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the pieces, as is the burial custom of the Jews."
We know from the other gospels that this was Joseph's own tomb. He'd followed Jesus secretly in life. Perhaps he and Nicodemus failed to speak up for Jesus not only during His ministry but during His trial as well. Too scared they might lose the respect of others, might forfeit their powerful positions, might be put in a category with those Jesus-following fanatics. So they played it safe and secret and silent. So full of fear, so uncertain, so stunned, surely by the course of events, that they likely refused to stand up for Christ, quietly trying to straddle the fence while He was accused and abused by the Sanhedrin and the officials. They missed their opportunity to stand up for the Savior who would die for them.
Until this moment. Isn't it amazing--now that Jesus was dead, now that all seemed lost, they boldly decide the time has come to quit playing it safe and to openly reveal to the world their love and their willingness to sacrifice for this man. It's as if they realized who Jesus truly was and what He'd come to do and that saving knowledge trumped their fears, their position, their security, their wealth. They were done with giving in to "what if's" or "we can't do that" or "that's too hard for me."
Nope, they just threw fear and caution to the wind and asked for the body of Jesus. They lovingly prepared Him for burial. And Joseph gave Jesus his own tomb.
Don't you wonder what their extended families said? Or the other pharisees? Or the temple establishment? Or the Roman officials?
None of that mattered to Joseph and Nicodemus. Not anymore. They bravely and simply did what they could to honor the One who had lived and died for them and for us. I'm betting they had no earthly idea that their deed would reverberate across the centuries! I betting they never dreamed that Jesus wouldn't be needing that tomb for long. Nope, all they knew was that the time had come to stand for the One they'd loved and followed secretly...and so they stood and did what they could, no matter the consequences.
And that was that...on that terrible, dark, Good Friday.
But that wasn't the end of the story, was it?
No, Joseph and Nicodemus remind us that God never gives up on us. That He delights to take even those of us who've failed....who've missed opportunities...who've succumbed to fear and worry...who've run out of strength and courage...who've missed the mark yet again...and restore us, revive us, and redeem us. And use us--even us--for His glory. God's not finished with us when we mess up--He's only just begun His finest resurrection work in our lives if we will come to Him in repentance and faith. It's called grace...and it truly is amazing.
So this Good Friday, might you remember that no matter what failures are in your past--or your present--His blood still covers all our sin. His presence still converts our weakness into strength. And His Holy Spirit still comes to lead and guide us into His truth.
It's never too late. Not with our Savior. Just ask Joseph and Nicodemus.
To God be the glory.
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