Joseph Of Arimathea - Philip A. C. Clarke

".JOSEPH OF ARThffiTHEA"Still in afterglow of wonderful Easter. AFestval of .Toy. Overtones of beauty and meaningcome down to us from first Easter Morn.Spring,dawn, songs of birds, fragrant flowers, lovelygarden, dew-dtenched grass. Then Mary Magdaleneat the Tomb. Mary weeping. The Gardener. Thenthe Voice - '' ry" and her joyful response, "Rabboni" - "MastLr".11 so out of this world.But there was one follower of .Jesus who wasnot altogether happy among all the joy. .Joseph,in whose lovely garden the greatest event in allhistory took place - .Joseph of Arimathea.· Let us be kind to him. He was generous. Hewrought a great service to every lover of .Jesus.What would have happened to the broken body? Italmost certainly would have been flung on refuseheaps of Gehenna! Sought and probably bought thebody of .Jesus from Pilate. And remember, that ineyes of .Jewish law .Joseph defiled his own tomb byplacing body of .Jesus there.In spite of all these things there was nojoy in .Joseph's heart on Easter morning. PerhapsI am overdrawing the picture; perhaps making unwarranted assumptions - let us see.A SECRET FOLLO NER'V hat do we know about .Joseph?Account tells some things A righteous man.A wealthyman. Member of Sanhedrin - .Te ish high court held in high esteem. Man of prestige. Accountalso says he was a follower of .Jesus - but secretly for fear. Fear of what? Consenuences!Nas not easy for .Joseph to come out in open.Member of Sanhedrin, remember. Turned out andostracised. Probably been denied ministry ofsynagogue. Family would have suffered. Prestigeimpaired. Perhaps persecution. More difficultfor him thun for fishermen like Peter. They hadlittle to lose. He had everything to lose .Joseph was "waiting " for the kingdom. Nota spiritual kingdom primarily; but driving outof Roman power. He had to be careful. Must not

He had arranged his life so nicely. Rathersuccessful. Appointed to Sanhedrin. Prestigeand respect. Had even made provision for burial.The tomb already made. But one day the shadow ofa cross falls over that garden and that lovelyplace forever will remind him of his own mentalanguish and failure. He had failed himself andhis Lord. And he could never forget that.And what of us? How much of our discipleshiphas been under cover? Have we always witnessedand shown our colors? Are we ashamed of our relationship to Christ? Do we speak out when truthand Jesus are upon trial; or are we absent andmute?In school, in the shop , wherever we are, arewe openly on His side; or are we neutral and fullof fear? What do we say when the church is undercriticism and the minister under fire? Rotariansand other service club members proudly wear theirbadges; are we ashamed to wear the badge of Christ.Joseph had the opportunity to do a fine andsplendid thing . but he was afraid - afraid ofcensure, afraid of identifying himself with adoubtful cause, afraid of a crucifixion. He hada chance to shed his blood - a chance to do something big - but be missed his chance - and everafter life had a big regret.

-3-That has happened many times since; when Christand truth and the church are on trial, then menabsent themselves. They take upon themselves apale pastel of neutrality. They would not be onhand to be counted. They would evade the issue.They have friends on both sides. They would waituntil things blow over. Too bad someone will becrucified. Joseph was missing from that meeting.Joseph was a "good" man - but not good enough.Not good enough to come out in the open with hisLord; not good enough to stand for the truth asindeed he saw it. Not good enough to cast a voteand his influence on the side of Jesus. Perhapshis vote might not have affected total vote; butit would have given Jesus some encouragement. Hewould not have felt so alone.But fear and neutrality in Joseph's heart wonout that dark night. And when the ResurrectionMorning dawned, there was little joy in it for him.He remembered he had refused to stand by Jesus andshare the shame, the criticism, the Cross. True,he had not voted against Jesus; true he had notconsented to His death. But he had refused to 'beidentified with Jesus in His suffering and therefore could not be identified with the ResurrectionJoy.A FORGOTTEN JOSEPHWe remember Joseph's lovelygarden but have forgotten itsowner. What happened Joseph?Probably thrown out of the Sanhedrin anyhow. Hisassociation with Jesus would almost guarantee it.Yet as far as we know he never became associatedwith the arly Church. He never identified himself with the church or Christ. Never mentionedeither in Sanhedrin or in the church. He simplydrops out of the scene. Steals away into darkness.No mention of him in the acts of the Apostles.This man with all his social position, withall his prestige, with all his learning, with allhis gifts and graces, amounted to nothing as faras the kingdom went. The forgotten Joseph of Arimathea. Disappointed through the years.

-2-make a mistake here. Cost him his life if Jesusfails at this point. Not sure of Jesus or of Hisintentions or ability to succeed. Must be verycareful and not rushed. Attracted by teaching;fascinated by His nersonality; charmed by Jesusin every way. But because of his fear he couldnot come out openly - must follow Him in secrecyand fear.Then came Good Friday and Crucifixion. Josephdreadfully sorry about the whole business.lso,rather glad in the circumstances that he had notmade a fool of himBelf. Jesus a sorry failure this was end of whole episode. Too bad. At leasthe would see He got a decent burial. .le must givehim credit for his generosity, of course.But then came the dawn - aster dawn. and toJoseph must have come the sobering thought - "Whata mistake I made; what a coward I was. dhy did Inot give Jesus the suppor He needed in the day ofHis greatest calamity?" These were thoughts that"robbed Joseph of joy on Easter morning.a PALELet's continue the analysis.Joseph was a scret disciple but there is another touch ingospel portrait that indicates weakness of character. Remember, Joseph belonged to the Sanhedrin.Let me read -Mark 14:53-65. "They all condemnedHim to death". Luke says that Joseph did not consent to their counsel and deed". Statements needharmonizing. Answer is obvious - Joseph was notthere - he was absent from that meeting.Messenger came in the night to summon all themembers of the Sanhedrin to a meeting. Joseph didnot go. He suspected there would be trouble. Hewas afraid he might be embarrass .e d. On the spot.He stayed home in bed. Perhaps his wife advisedhim to stay away. "Don't go Joseph; there's goingto be trouble. Besides, you'll only make your coldworse". And after all, it's illegal to have ameeting of the Sanhedrin in the dead of night. Heturned over and tried to sleep. He would make afew discreet enquiries in the morning.Meanwhile, Jesus was on trial for his life.NEUTR ITY

The VresenceTHE CONSTANT presence of our Lord in the dailylif of 'His follower is a fact of the utmost impor-tance. In due time it becomes the dominant factorin all that he says and does.The presence of the Lord is an encouragement and a deterrent, an inspiration and a controlling influence. It encourages ·one to shun everything that is sordid and impure, all thatproceeds from the sinful flesh. It is a warning to guardone's tongue, to avoid profanity, levity and all unseemlyconversation.His presence is a source of strength and power. It makesit easier to say no to that which is wrong; less difficult to sayyes to that which the love of God requires. It supports aperson in every sincere effort to put aside the unlovely :unkindness, impatience, selfishness, and envy. It sustains intrials, comforts in sorrows, helps to untangle the perplexitiesof life, gives confidence and calm in the hour of crisis.His presence is not something remotely possible, somethingrarely attained. A trusting heart and a willing spirit insureHis presence. Allowed to speak through His Word, He doesnot long delay His reassuring "Lo, I am with you alway."The soul that humbly entreats Him, "Abide with us," quickly discovers that He responds by entering in. In such a lifethe Presence is a reality.A.P.H . No. 843 litho in U.S.A.The Presence

FREMONT STREET METHODIST CHURCHGlove r s vill e , New YorkFr ed Clarke, MinisterGrace L. GiffordJanet Price DavisChurch SecretaryMinister of MusicLewis Cunning, SextonORDER OF MORNING WORSHIPORGAN PRELUDE -11Unto Thee I Cry"Dupre"Jesus Christ, Our Saviour"DupreClcLL TO WORSHIP - By the ministerHYJ\rn 165 - "Look, ye saints, the sight is glorious" CwmS URS UM CORDA :RhonddaMinist er: Th e Lord be with you.Peopl e : And with thy spirit.Minister: Lift up your hearts.Peopl e : We lift them up unto the Lord.Min1 s t er: Let us give thank s unto the Lord.Peop l e : It i s meet and ri ght so to do.APRIL 4, 1948 - CALENDAR FOR TODAY10:30Morning Worship and sermon - "Joseph of Arimathe.:·.··Church-time Cherub Hour for small children.11:00 Junior Church with IV!rs. Gifford.11:45 Church School; l'.r r, S. w. Fear, superintendent.6:00 Youth Fello,v ship, Leader, Mr. Clarke. Topic ofdiscus sion, "The Resurrection".7:30 Union· Evening Service at Kingsboro PresbyterianChurch with the Rev. Kenneth Slorpe, East SideMemorial Presbyterian Church, Rochester a thepreacher.The altar flowers are given by the E.F.W.Class in memory of deceased members.THROUGH THE WEEK AT FREMONTMON.TUES.11:007:308:00DOXOLOGY - To be sung by allWED.*RESPONSIVE READTIJG - 14th Sunday - page 578GLORIA PATRI :: APOSTLES' CREEDSCRIPTlmE LESSON - Matthew, 14:58-64; Luke 23:50-56ANTHEM - "If With AUYour Hearts"Mende lssohnPASTORA L PRAYER :: LORD'S PRAYERORGAN OFFERTORY - "By the Waters of Babylon"DuprePRESEN TATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGSHYMN 228 - "O for a closer w lk with God"NaomiSERMON - "JOSEPH OFTHURS. 7750"'7:'458:008:00FRI.lT:O'Ol:OO 6:30ARIMI THFJ,"HYMN 22 5 - "Take my life and l et it be"BENEDICTION :: CHOru L BENEDICTIONORGAN POSTLUDE - "Pr elud e and Fugue"2:307:30SAT.9:307":30MessiahDre sdenBuxtehudeThe Boy Scouts of thi s church ·will coll ect your n ewspa per s. "Sign up" with them t his morning aft er s ervic e .We ekday School; grade 10.Boy Scouts meet at the church.April meeting WoiP.an' s Society ChristianServic e . Mrs. Arthur Wilsey will present"A NIGHT \IV'ITH ALBERT SCHWEITZER"Weekday School; grades 4, 5 and 6.Mid-week Service; Mr. Clarke leading.Fremont Choir r ehearsal.Epworth Workers meet at the church.Ber ean Class meets at the Y.W.C.A.Venner Class meets with Arch Rogers.Weekday School; grade 9.Weekday School; grades 7 and 8.Chapel Choir rehearsal.Ha rmony Class covered dish at the church.Carol Choir rehearsal.Couples Club movie party at the church.THE EASTER OFFERING at pr e sent amounts to 1150 Whilewe have pot a s yet reuched our goal o/' 2000., yet thisoffering was very generous. Will those WftO have not r e turned their Easter envelope pleas e do so as on as po s sibl e . Th e Board of Trustee s need th e full t.2000., , fo rthe Renovating and Re -decora ting of the church h'1 lb1fays .

A FORGOTTEN JOSEPH We remember Joseph's lovely garden but have forgotten its owner. What happened Joseph? Probably thrown out of the Sanhedrin anyhow. His association with Jesus would almost guarantee it. Yet as far as we know he never became associated with the arly Church. He never identified him self with the church or Christ.