I attended an Easter vigil service tonight, and the preacher talked about the time between Jesus’ death and the beginning of the Sabbath. He mentioned how little we talk about those 3 hours and the five people mentioned, Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, the Centurion, Mary Magdalene, and Mary, the mother of Joses. He spoke of the Centurion, who declared Jesus must be the son of God and who later reported that Jesus was indeed dead. And he spoke of those two men of great reputation, who were part of the religious establishment that was against Him but became the caretakers of Jesus’ body, rescuing it from further humiliation and disrespect. And he mentioned the two women who, from a distance, watched carefully to see where Jesus’ body was laid.
My mind fixed on the contrast between the two men of great repute and the two women of no reputation or ill repute even. Then I thought of the women at the foot of the cross. I don’t think the women were necessarily braver than the men who did not go to the foot of the cross or even loved Jesus more, but possibly they did. But I do know, as women, they were seen as inconsequential, of no repute or ill repute, and no real threat. Their lowly condition was the very thing that gave them access where others dared not go. Likewise, Joseph of Arimathea had access to Pilot that very few had because he was a man of great reputation. And then there is the Centurion who had a position that placed him at the cross to witness the death of Jesus and allowed him to testify that Jesus was the son of God and declare His death.
As all of this began to weave together in my mind, I realized that each one of these people was born into a different circumstance and had very different experiences in life. Some had privileges, some had positions, and some were discriminated against. But each one’s life struggles and triumphs led them to these three unprecedented hours in human history. And each one was perfectly positioned to be a part of the Big Story, Jesus’ story, the redemption of humanity.
There are many things in and about our lives that we have no choice about, but the place and position you find yourself in is no accident. It may be a tough place or a privileged place, but you are uniquely positioned to be a part of Jesus’ story in a way no other person can. We all have the same choice, follow Jesus or reject Jesus. Two rich and respected men chose to follow Jesus and became the caretakers of His body. Women of lowly state chose to follow Jesus, and they became part of declaring Jesus’ resurrection. If we choose to believe and follow Him, we get to fulfill our destiny to glorify Him no matter where we find ourselves.
“1 As Jesus passed by, He saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” John 9:1-3