“Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. (Joseph was an honored member of the high council, and he was waiting for the kingdom of God to come.)” (Mark 15:43 NLT)
I love the New Living Translation because it leaves very little for interpretation. The modern language makes the message easy to understand. The NIV tells us that Joseph ‘went boldly’, the NKJV ‘taking courage’, the CEV says Joseph was ‘was brave enough’ but the NLT lays it out for us straight: Joseph ‘took a risk’.
I have a great deal of respect of Joseph of Arimethea because he had something I lack: high risk tolerance. At least in this documented moment, we see him evaluate a desire plus potential outcomes and move forward in faith despite the risk. I admire Joseph because risk is tough for me.
A few years ago my husband and I invested in mutual funds. Before the financial advisor would accept our check, he sat us down and asked us to take a risk tolerance test. I’m typically pretty good at tests, but this one proved what I had been practicing for decades: I’m fairly risk-averse. I drive a Volvo station wagon, for pity’s sake. Like I drive it cause it’s my dream car – like I dream of arriving at my destination safely and the ultra-high crash-test rating of Volvos makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. For me a vehicle is about arriving at the destination in one piece more than getting there quickly. I’m risk-averse in other areas, too. I steer away from clothing trends and stick to the classics because I don’t want to run the risk of going out of style. I order the same two drinks at Starbucks (iced vanilla latte in the summer, hot vanilla latte in the winter) because I don’t want to risk not liking my coffee and wasting my money.
My risk aversion became problematic and relationally destructive when my disabled brother came to live with me. He is a twenty-one year army veteran and a fire survivor. He spent his military career as a forward observer; scouting out hostile territories and reporting back to his supervisors. Additionally, he likes fast cars, extreme sports and social media instigation. Obviously his risk tolerance is sky-high and you can maybe see where a caregiver/dependent relationship was a challenge for us.
All that being said, I look at Joseph of Arimathea and I see a man who made a bold choice in the face of big risk. What did Jospeh jeopardize?
- Prominent Position
Joseph was a member of the High Council; this was about as upper echelon as it got in Jewish culture. He was a part of the social-political and religious landscape in Jerusalem. He had a view, a voice and a vote in the current events affecting his people. Joseph risked all this by approaching Pilate fo the body of Jesus. His act of bravery aligned him with the rogue Rabbi of Galilee, a man the high priests had tried, convicted and crucified. - Penalty from Pilate
To approach Pilate was courageous act. Especially after such high-strung day and about an already touchy subject. Pilate had ‘washed his hands’ of Jesus’ death (Matthew 27:24) and Joseph had the gall to open up the discussion again. Surely Joseph risked imprisonment, punishment, even execution. - Divine Disobedience
This was the largest and most expensive risk for Joseph of Arimathea. He had felt the tug of heaven on his heart, he was pressed to tend to the body of Jesus as he would a brother. And though the earthly risks were great, Joseph could not bring himself to ignore divine instinct/instruction. Earth had no fury louder than the disappointment of the Almighty. Joseph was willing to take this risk because all his hopes were tied up in heaven, he was waiting for the Kingdom to come and that desire eclipsed all other desires.
I get it. I’ve been there. I’ve felt the internal pressure of the Holy Spirit and responded; sometimes in obedience, sometimes in obstinance. Obedience (though terrifying, embarrassing and riddled with earthly risk) is always less painful than disobedience. We don’t know what God had asked Joseph to do for Kingdom’s sake before that Friday, but we can see from his choice, he’d learned that earthly risk paled in comparison to the price of divine disobedience.
Joseph’s story of risk-tolerance challenges me this morning. This Volvo-driving Christ-follower longs to say ‘yes’ to God, even if it means risking position or penalty. Jospeh served the body of Christ and ultimately the Kingdom with his obedience to the tug of heaven. I want to do whatever it is the Spirit asks me to do, no matter the level of peril.
“And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.” (Revelations 12:11 NLT)
Lord, forgive us for our flesh and blood struggle to take Kingdom risks. We are, by fallen nature, a fearful people. We recall though, that perfect love casts out all fear. Joseph of Arimathea loved You well. He let his desire to serve Your Body outweigh his fear of punishment or death. Perfect Your love in us. We want to serve You to the very end of our stories. May we love You more than anything else: position, reputation, well-being or status quo. We want to live and die for Kingdom’s sake. Amen.