by Gideon Odoma

“Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.” (Mark 15:43).

“And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave… And there came also Nicodemus…” (John 19:38-39).

Joseph of Arimathaea was a secret disciple FOR A WHILE. People may not have known that he meditated deeply and regularly on Jesus’ teachings. He did. If it were today, he would have had a good supply of Jesus’ Teaching tapes. He followed Jesus, howbeit in the secret…

Joseph of Arimathaea came public for Jesus at a very critical point in Christ’s life. When he did, the publicly acclaimed disciples of Jesus had gone into hiding. Joseph declared for Jesus when it was most risky to do so. It was a season when an outspoken disciple like Peter vehemently denied the Lord, employing curses and obscenities, to make his desperate denials appear genuine. It was in such a season that Joe came forward BOLDLY unto “Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus”.

Peter identified publicly with Jesus until it became very risky to continue to do so.
Joseph of Arimathaea identified publicly with Jesus when it was most risky to do so.

WATCH IT: There are people that will show up for you at the most precarious periods of your life. People of worth. People of substance. People of means. Secret supporters. Quiet admirers. May your Josephs of Arimathaea show up in your moments of need.

You see, even if the other disciples were bold, they could not do much for Jesus at this time. Why? Here:
They had no voice with Pilate. Joseph of Arimathaea did! (He was a prominent public officer)
The disciples were not wealthy, they had no such stone-hewn tomb to lay the Master’s body. Joseph was wealthy, he had a ready tomb to lay the Lord’s body!

Sometimes, you need to be in a quandary to receive super-normal ministry from unexpected quarters. Fear not. YOUR TROUBLE IS THE ACTIVATION CODE FOR Your JOSEPH of Arimathaea. Your predicament is the prefix to the fulfilment of prophecy.

There are important people: people of power – politically, financially, spiritually, economically – reserved for you by God. They are reserved for your day of direst dilemma. They are kept behind the scenes for you against the hour of deepest darkness.

Don’t mourn and grieve endlessly about a betraying Judas or a denying Peter or the deserting other-Ten. (Some will return to you later) The man for this hour is different. He is a preserved, secret follower. He has been prepared for this moment. He is a special player in the squad of divine help recruited by God for your sake. He is a unique weapon in God’s armoury for your times in the crucible of pain. Some weapons are reserved for worst case scenarios. When it gets most horrible, such help as you never imagined existed for your sake will show up boldly on your account.

You have had important helpers and supporters, but I am praying God to reveal your strategic supporters. Men of immense influence, men who can talk and secure cooperation from the authorities of the time. Men who are in touch with you and with that which you need but is beyond you.

Joseph of Arimathaea was previously afraid of the Jews and so kept himself a secret follower of Christ. Now, the commitment of Jesus to His Messianic mandate, even to the point of death, overwhelms him. Joe could not but go public for the Lord.

May you remain dogged to your calling. May you stick to your vision, no matter what hell unleashes at you. Your resolve will help mobilize your relief.

I call forth every man pencilled down by God to help you in your critical moments of need. May they appear, unashamedly for your sake, while you stick to your purpose, in Jesus’ name.

You need a Joseph. Someone needs you as Joseph!

I call forth your Josephs.
I call you forth too, as someone’s Joseph. Locate everyone in need whom you have been designed to help. Be the help!

After-all, it is better to give than to receive.

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Op–ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija

Gideon Odoma is a minister of the Gospel and founder of Fortress Ministry.