Gtcotr/ss040608
When we hear about other people’s sin, we should always assume they didn’t mean to do it. We can base this principle on:
Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted His raiment, and cast lots.
Because if they had have known what they were really doing, certainly they would not have done it. As the scripture says:
1 Corinthians 2:8 None of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
This Mornings Bread of Life deals with
3 Elements of The Christian’s Character
1. Courage
2. Commitment
3. Compassion
In discovering God’s word this morning we are going to briefly peer into the life of ‘Three Old Joes’.
I. Joe Number One: Joseph of Arimathea
A. Mark 15:43 says that Joseph of Arimathea was an honorable and a prominent man who:
“…gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.” Mark 15:43 NAS
B. Matthew 27, verses 57 and following, describe Joseph of Arimathea as a rich man who had become a disciple and follower of Jesus who begged for the body of Jesus.
C. To add to this character reference lets look at the Gospel of John, chapter 19.
John 19 NLT
38 ¶ Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take Jesus’ body down. When Pilate gave him permission, he came and took the body away.
39 Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night, also came, bringing about seventy-five pounds of embalming ointment made from myrrh and aloes.
40 Together they wrapped Jesus’ body in a long linen cloth with the spices, as is the Jewish custom of burial.
Joseph of Arimathea followed Jesus only close enough to know him but not close enough for it to cost him. You see, the more one has to loose the harder it is to gather the courage it takes to risk associating with Jesus.
What was it that brought this old Joe from a low risk secret relationship with Jesus to a high risk public response for Jesus?
> Perhaps it was guilt or realizing what opportunities he had forfeited – what might have been …
> Or maybe it was just his day, his duty, his turn to take the lead since no one else was there to do it.
> It simply could have been that Joseph was prepared and positioned for such a time as this.
Whatever it was that moved Joseph out of his secret relationship to the public stage, it gave him the courage he needed to stand up in the face of fear.
Courage is not the absence of fear but rather a challenge to fear.
* We often do not realize the opportunities at hand until they are gone. But, it’s never too late to take courage and act for Christ.
* When will you do what courage requires of you?
> To start doing what you should have been doing all along.
> To stop doing what you know is not the right thing to do.
> To stand against the odds at school, at work or on weekends
> To come out of the closet and let your light shine for Christ.
Joseph of Arimathea was a man of courage.
He may have gotten there a little late for some, but he was right on time for Jesus.
II. The Second Joe: Joseph The Son of Jacob
A. Perhaps you have read or heard of the story of Joseph from the book of Genesis. The account of his life tells us that Joseph was thrown into a pit by his brothers and later sold to a traveling band of traders. In
In every age, stage, situation and season of life Joseph demonstrated dynamic character qualities which ultimately led him to his greatest day. One such element of character was that of his tremendous ability to commit to whatever was at hand. It’s like Solomon recorded in:
Key Scripture: Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom. (NIV)
Without regard to where Joseph found himself, he found something to excel in. When he was a slave in Potiphar’s household, he rose to become chief steward. When he found himself wrongfully accused, convicted and sentenced to prison, he work hard and became the head trustee. When he went to live in the Palace, sure enough – he became second in command of all
The bible does not directly say so but I can easily imagine that he was also the greatest one man pit crew that a group of conspiring brothers could have. No wonder his father Jacob claimed him to be the favorite – he probably worked very hard at being the best son he could be, doing whatever he was asked and extra without complaint.
As well, later in life Joseph proved to be the best brother and friend any family could imagine. He forgave everyone and shared his wealth with his family until the day he died. Why? How?
Joseph possessed a very high regard for Personal Commitment. No matter what stage or situation of life, good or bad, fair or unfair, easy or hard, working for people he liked and for people he didn’t … Joseph was committed to task at hand. Simply put:
Joseph learned the value of blossoming where you are planted.
B. Joseph, son of Jacob, was a man of great personal commitment. He was diligent in his work.
Genesis 39:3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand. (NKJV)
III. Now for Joseph Number Three - Joseph, The Husband Of Mary
A. In Luke 1 we read that God sent the angel Gabriel to inform Mary she had been chosen to bear the Son of God. She was yet a virgin and as yet unmarried … only she was engaged to be married to Joseph, a young Judean carpenter from
B. This created some problems in the community where Mary and Joseph lived. When it was found that Mary was pregnant, Joseph was counseled to put her away, in other words – have a public hearing and have her condemned, divorced and publicly punished. However, Joseph was unwilling to be so unkind to this woman in her evident hour of need, though she had hurt him.
You have heard that ‘hurting people hurt people’ … well not always … Joseph was hurting but yet he had compassion on Mary. This was the sort of man God had chosen to be the earthly father of Jesus.
Matthew 1: 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. (NIV)
The word says that Joseph was a righteous man – those who are right with God bear no ill will toward others, even though others have wronged them. Joseph may not have wanted to continue in covenant with Mary, but he did not want to see her humiliated.
Proverbs 10:12 “… love covers all sins.”
* He must have truly loved Mary, we know he truly loved God.
* 1 Corinthians 13:13 Now abideth faith, hope and love, the greatest of these is love.
Joseph was a man of compassion.
IV. Conclusion – What can we learn from 3 old Joes?
A. Courage … seize the opportunities Jesus gives you and do not miss the day of your visitation.
B. Commitment … blossom where you are planted and whatever your hands find to do, do with all your might.
C. Compassion … treat even your enemies with the love of Christ, do good to those who use you, evilly treat you and/or wrongly persecute you.
