QT Sharing (10 Apr)

Scripture Reading: JOHN 19:31-42

31Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. 32The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 35The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken,"[a] 37and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced."[b]

The Burial of Jesus

38Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. 39He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.[c] 40Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41At 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. 42Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

75 pounds of myrrh and aloes. That equates to about 34kg worth. I am not too sure but I believe that amount is way too much spices to wrap Jesus' body with. However, that's not the issue or something we can comment about Nicodemus. This is his 'last' act of worship onto his beloved Master. He never fully understood that Jesus was to be resurrected. Initially, he could have hiden himself but at this final moment when Jesus' body was to be removed, Joseph and Nicodemus came to retrieve the body. They both were 'secret' disciples but at that point of time, they chose to risk their reputation and even their lives.

I learn 2 things.

Firstly is how serious we take our worship. What is the worth of our worship? I am not talking about the material worth. I am talking about the heart worth. If we can recall, there was another story when a lady poured perfume ( 1 year's worth of wage) onto Jesus' legs and Nicodemus with his over-carried spices. These 2 stories seems like it is a bit over-exaggerated and appear to be unwise. Why wash the feet with such expensive perfume? Why 75 pounds of spice over a dead body? It is not the quantity or the price that matters. It is their worship unto God. It may sound that they are just spending money unwisely but it is their heart of worship. Even if the story was to change to using milk to wash Jesus' feets or 7 pounds worth of spices, it doesn't change their heart of worship. They came with an authentic heart. As whether it is wise of them to spend so much, it is not for us to say because these are their money. They could choose to spend in anyway they want. And most importantly, are we giving the best to Christ?

Second lesson is how we react to our faith in good times and in bad times. No doubt, in good times, all will be able to sing Hallelujah, praise be to our God. And when times are bad, can we still sing the same note? Joseph and Nicodemus had been secret disciples and most probably had denied being associated with Jesus before when questioned. However, at that crucial moment, they chose to step up from their hiding and came to retrieve Jesus' body. They might have faced persecution or even death but they couldn't care any more. How about ourselves? Do we care more about ourselves than we care for Jesus?

Lord! Thank You for Your unconditioned love for us. Thank You for Your blood shed for us. Help us to worship You. It is not the worth of the content of worship but it is the heart of our worship. May it be pleasing to You. Lord, help us also to be zealous in our love for You. In good times, in bad times, we will continue to stand firm. Let our voices continue to sing the same note of worship to You!