After being sure that Jesus had died, Joseph of Arimathea had gone to Pilate and secretly asked permission to take Jesus”™ body for burial. He could lose his position on the Council of the 70, the Sanhedrin. He could have been excommunicated from the Jewish religion. What Joseph and Nicodemus did to show respect to the body of Jesus could create personal problems for both of these men.

(NIV) John 19:39-40 “He (Joseph of Arimathea) 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. (about 34 kilograms) 40Taking Jesus”™ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.”

The burial custom of the Jews was to bury their dead on the day of death. And a law of the Jews also said that they could not celebrate Passover if they touched a dead body. Joseph and Nicodemus would have given up this most cherished Holy day to prepare Jesus”™ body and bury it. They would be able to celebrate Passover the following month on the same day of the month. (See Numbers 9:6-12)

Joseph and Nicodemus intervened despite potential problems that could affect them personally. They intervened to give respect and love to this Rabbi Who had claimed to be the Son of God.

Some questions I have asked myself:

Where do I need to intervene in behalf of another, knowing that I might be shunned?

Do I choose not to do a “good thing” for another because I fear the consequences?

Intervention may mean potential problems for you.