Read:  Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself also waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. Mark 15:43

Examine: We see Joseph of Arimathea in all the four gospels. Joseph was a wealthy man who came from Arimathea in Judea. ( Matthew 27:57)

He was a good and righteous man who managed to be both a member of the Council (the Sanhedrin) and a secret supporter of Jesus (John 19:38) – which is why he did not join in the Council’s actions against Jesus. Joseph of Arimathea was “a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God (Mark 15:43)

After the death of Jesus, Joseph asked Pilate for permission to take Jesus’ body and bury it properly. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. (John 19:38)

Permission was granted and the body was taken down. Joseph, helped by Nicodemus, wrapped the body in cloth with the addition of myrrh and aloes. They buried Jesus in an unused tomb that Joseph may have intended for himself, where it was protected by a heavy stone rolled against the opening.

Application: How secret disciple who transitioned to a bolder follower than other disciples of Jesus after the death of Jesus. Boldness of Joseph of Arimathea to go to Pilate, and commitment, the Bible says he begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.

Sacrificial acts of bringing down the body of Jesus: proceeded to Golgotha to take the body of Jesus down from the cross. Matthew wrote “Pilate commanded the body to be delivered,” Matthew 27:58. Mark wrote that Joseph of Arimathea “took him down,” Mark 15:46. Luke wrote that Joseph of Arimathea “took it down,” Luke 23:53. John wrote only that Joseph of Arimathea “took the body of Jesus,” John 19:38. Just before sabbath what a great act.

Act that will cost his life, and position and even risk his family, Jews, and Romans will target Joseph the next. There, according to John 19:39-40, Joseph and Nicodemus took the body and bound it in linen cloths with the spices that Nicodemus had bought. Joseph immediately purchased a linen shroud (Mark 15:46). Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury John 19:40. The Gospel of Matthew suggests that this was Joseph’s own tomb (Matthew 27:60).

Decision: Lord Jesus, I want to follow you whole heartedly, fully committed. And serve Jesus even if it costs my reputation, position, or even my life itself. Lord Jesus, help me to be faithful and blameless.

Read: Come and see the man who told me everything I have ever done. Could he be the Messiah? John 4:29

Examine:

Encounter with Jesus: In Samaria, Jesus came to a town named by the well of Jacob. Jesus was tired, a Samaritan woman came to draw some water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink of water. The woman was surprised as Jews will not use the same cups and bowls that Samaritans use.

Conversation with Jesus: Jesus answered, “If you only knew what God gives and who it is that is asking you for a drink, you would ask him, and he would give you life-giving water.” “Sir,” the woman said, “you don’t have a bucket, and the well is deep. Where would you get that life-giving water? Jesus answered The water that I will give them will become in them a spring which will provide them with life-giving water and give them eternal life.”

Knowledge of Jesus: Later Jesus asks Go and call your husband,” and she replies I don’t have a husband. Jesus replied, “You are right when you say you don’t have a husband.  You have been married to five men, and the man you live with now is not your husband. You have told me the truth.”

Revelation of Jesus: “I see you are a prophet, sir,” the woman said. She responds to this by asking for worship. Jesus told her, “Believe me, woman, the time will come when people will not worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah will come. Jesus answered, “I am he, I who am talking with you.”

Minister of Jesus: Then the woman left her water jar, went back to the town, and said to the people there, “Come and see the man who told me everything I have ever done. Could he be the Messiah?” So they left the town and went to Jesus.

Application: One of the most unexpected women, whose family life was shattered and the current man with whom she stays is not her husband and being a Samaritan, still meeting Jesus her life completely changes. It shows that encounter with Jesus is truly transformational

Also, how her knowledge of Jesus increases as she keeps on communicating with Jesus, so that truly encourages us, more we spend time with Jesus in prayer and studying the word of God will transform us and our understanding of Jesus will change. And there is true change

Decision: Like the Samaritan women Lord Jesus I want to go and share about you and what you have done in my life. I wanted to spend more time with you all alone so that I would know more of you, Jesus.

Read: Only Luke is with me. Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service 2 Tim 4:11

Examine:

Church Boy: The story of John Mark, starts in Acts 12, when Peter is miraculously delivered by an angel from the prison when Herod had arrested Peter to be killed. When Peter was freed, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.

Mission Traveler: Barnabas and Paul came to Jerusalem to help the church in Jerusalem. The word of God continued to spread and grow. Barnabas and Paul finished their mission and returned from Jerusalem, taking John Mark with them to Antioch church where Paul and Barnabas were serving.

Missionary Tarinee: Later from Antioch church Lord Set apart for Barnabas and Paul, to do the work to which the Lord had called them.”  And in the first missionary trip, they preached the word of God in the synagogues. They had John Mark with them to help in the work.

Deserter: Paul and his companions traveled to different places and faced very tough challenges, where John Mark left them and went back to Jerusalem.

Reason For Division: Later mission visit, Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them,  but Paul did not think it was right to take him, because he had not stayed with them to the end of their mission, but had turned back and left them.  There was a sharp argument, and they separated: Barnabas took Mark and sailed off for Cyprus.

Restored: Later Mark meets Peter and gets restored to a great man of God, and towards the end of Paul’s ministry we see Paul asking Timothy. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he can help me with the work.

Application: We know there was a gathering in John Mark’s house and he was closely associated with Peter and His mother was a strong believer. The church witnessed one of the greatest miracles due to their fervent prayers. Have gatherings at home and depend on prayers in tough situations too.

John Mark’s availability to help, the young man got scared and fled, but his restoration story, Lord is a great comfort to know Lord is still patient. Lord can change any situation, Lord Jesus can make us like Him, if we surrender.

Decision: Lord Jesus I want to surrender and humble myself at your feet. Teach me never to take anything for granted. John Mark failed though he had great mentors, Lord my confidence in all my weaknesses is that you can change everything. John Mark was restored to be useful, though he was the reason for the division of two great apostles.

Read:  And she had a sister called Mary, who was also seated at the Lord’s feet, and was listening to His word. Luke 10:39

Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair, and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. John 12:3

Examine: We see Mary of Bethany majorly in three primary passages in scripture. [Luke 10:38-42, John 11:28-33, John 12:1-5] Once Jesus and his disciples came to the house of Mary, we saw her sitting down at the feet of the Lord and listening to his teaching. Jesus commends this action to Martha her sister, who shows Mary’s heart to listen and was accepted by Jesus.

Later Mary’s brother Lazarus died and Jesus was not there, and Jesus came to the town four days later. When Mary heard this, she got up and hurried out to meet him. Mary arrived where Jesus was, and as soon as she saw him, she fell at his feet. “Lord,” she said, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died!” And Jesus comforts her and raises Lazarus. Mary’s confidence and trust in Jesus are very notable here

Six days before the cross, Jesus went to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, the man he had raised from death. They prepared a dinner for him there, Mary took a whole pint of a very expensive perfume made of pure nard, poured it on Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The sweet smell of the perfume filled the whole house. Jesus commended this when Judas was trying to condemn the act

Application: For Mary priority and focus was only Jesus and the learning of the word of God from Jesus at His feet. Surely this was so special that Jesus commended this action.

Even when Lazarus died, Mary’s confidence in Jesus though she did not have the Bible like us. Mary’s heart to go, Jesus, without bothering what others thought is a great lesson.

Mary’s sacrificial giving to Jesus cost an entire year’s income and how she expressed herself like a servant not thinking what others might be thinking.

Decision: Lord Jesus, I want to be at your feet in prayers always. I want to be a real student of the word of God and apply it with the strength of the Holy Spirit. Lord let me be like Mary of Bethany, that it is all about Jesus, not about the opinion of other people. Lord Jesus let me be a sacrificial and cheerful giver.

Read : Luke 19:8,9 Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.  And Jesus said to him, today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham

Examine : Jesus once came to Jericho. There was a man there, Zacchaeus, a rich tax collector. He wanted desperately to see Jesus, but the crowd was in his way—he was a short man and couldn’t see over the crowd. So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus when he came by.

When Jesus got to the tree, he looked up and said, Zacchaeus, hurry down, today I must stay in your house. Everyone who saw the incident was indignant and grumbled. But Zacchaeus said Master, I give away half my income to the poor—and for all defraud I did, I will pay four times the damages.  Jesus said today is salvation day in this home! Here he is Zacchaeus, son of Abraham! For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost.

Application : When you hear of Jesus, act fast, the sense of urgency of Zacchaeus, running and climbing. Jesus looking up and calling, changed Zacchaeus completely, though Jesus did not ask him, he made corrections for his past mistakes though it was very costly. Also, we see Zacchaeus not responding to people who grumbled. The greatest miracle is true conversion, it is the gift of God, and true confession leads to transformation.

When Jesus says – Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. We do not realize Jesus came into this world for my sin to be forgiven and I will live a blameless life and have victory over sin. It is also surprising religious people could not comprehend the fact Jesus could accept a wretched sinner. What prompted Zacchaeus to take such a drastic decision, the answer is a simple encounter with Jesus, did I really encounter Jesus?

Decisions :

• Sin to Avoid – I am committing, never to judge or grumble when I see the mercy of God working in unexpected persons (Luke 19:7)
• Promise to Keep – Salvation is the greatest miracle, it comes by the grace of God alone (Luke 19:9) Lord let me have a true encounter with you.
• Example to Follow – Lord, please help me to immediately obey when the Holy Spirit promotes like Zacchaeus. Ran ahead (Luke 19:4), Drastic change, Salvation leads to Transformation
• Command to Keep – Lord even if it is costly, I want to obey and please you alone. Luke 19:8