Devoted Life

Mark 15:40-47 Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there. 42 It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, 43 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. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45 When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.
 
ARE you devoted to Jesus? The women and Jospeh of Arimathea are good examples for us. The women had walked with Jesus from the days of his early ministry in Galilee. Jesus had healed Mary Magdalene from seven evil spirits. Salome was James’ and John’s mother. The other Mary was mother of one disciple, James the younger. His brother Joses was likely known in the early church. John recorded others, including Jesus’ mother at the cross.
   These devoted women did not turn from Jesus at that awful moment. It’s impossible to imagine their grief as they witnessed their beloved rabbi die. How was it possible this man of deep wisdom, life-changing miracles and extraordinary love could be suffering so terribly?
   For three years they had cared for his needs. That means they used their money to buy food and supply shelter for the Son of God and the disciples. They washed clothes. They set up camp and took it down, cooked the food and worked with diligent devotion as godly women do.
   They cared for Jesus and stayed with him even to the tomb. They watched where Joseph put Jesus because they knew they had to care for him once more to properly attend to his body after the Sabbath.
   Joeph was a member of the Sanhedrin, the group who had condemned Jesus. But he was different. John 19:38b 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. Yes, Joseph, as the 11 disciples, feared the Jews. He had just seen what the Sanhedrin did to Jesus. Yet he showed his devotion to Jesus. The body of a crucified man was often left to the animals. But Joseph gave him a rich man’s tomb. Isaiah 53:9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
   Devotion is commitment. These people have given us a living legacy of active commitment to Jesus. “Commit your life to Jesus.” is not a slogan. It is the disciple’s life.