evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the
Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly
to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. (Mark 15: 42-43)
A retired reporter friend of mine commented during a recent trip that
he likes Mark’s Gospel because it was written like a newspaper
reporter would, like an AP story. Notice how Mark says “boldly.” And
how he uses only the needed quotes along the way.
That set me to thinking how to write my meditation. How might I
have reported Joseph’s return from Pilate? Maybe, “Asked as he
hurried down the street after leaving Pilate why he had taken this
chance: ‘I had to! He was my friend, my mentor. I just had to! I
couldn’t just leave him hanging there.’ He kept on walking, almost
running back to Golgotha. ‘Tomorrow’s the Sabbath!’ Joseph had a
purpose, he would complete it. He sped on.”
But how many times have you “just had to?” How many times have
I? For a friend; for just an acquaintance? Or even a stranger on the
road to Jericho?
Jesus said, “As you have done it for one of the least of these my
brothers, you have done it for me.”
But just do it for one? Do we often try to do more than that? Take
care of the many instead of trying to really do for the one? Really
care for one? Concentrate on the immediate need? Do what needs to
be done now? For just the one?
Joseph took care of what he saw as the immediate need. Now was
the time to bury Jesus. It had to be done by sunset. The next day he
could tend to something else.
How about you? How about me?
Perry White
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