The

Unsung

Heroes of

Easter

Daniel Whyte III

The Unsung Heroes of Easter by Daniel Whyte III

Cover Design by Atinad Designs.

© Copyright 2014

TORCH LEGACY PUBLICATIONS

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner, except for brief quotations included in a review of the book.

All Bible quotations in this volume are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Images on the front cover: The Centurion by James Jacques Tissot; Joseph of Arimathea preparing to bury Jesus (16th century Flemish work); Ecce Homo by Antonio Ciseri

To my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

Contents

Introduction

1. Pilate’s Wife and the Nightmare from Heaven

2. Simon of Cyrene: An Encounter with God on the Road to Golgotha

3. Mary: Peace in the Midst of the Storm

4. John: The Disciple Who Loved Jesus to the Very End

5. The Roman Centurion: A Change of Heart

6. Joseph of Arimathea: A 'Secret Believer' Who Sacrificed for Jesus

7. Nicodemus: Another Secret Saint Who Came Through for Jesus in the End

8. Mary Magdalene: The First Person to See the Risen Christ

9. Jesus Christ: The Ultimate Hero of Easter

10. You, Me, and the Unsung Heroes

Acknowledgements

For the Glory of God and to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

To my family: my wife, Meriqua, and my children: Danni, Daniel IV, Danita, Danae, Daniqua, Danyel Ezekiel, and Danyelle Elizabeth, who each assisted me in putting this book together.

And especially to my oldest son, Daniel Whyte IV, whom I have had the privilege of training in the ministry ever since he was a little boy when he said he wanted to be a preacher. He assisted me by doing most of the research for the messages included in this book.

And to all people around the world whom I hope will be reminded every day of the powerful story of Easter and how it impacts our lives.

—Daniel Whyte III

Introduction

Because of the fast-moving, epic events of Holy Week, we often miss the seemingly insignificant characters of the Easter story. Only a verse or two is dedicated to their actions in the Biblical record, and we do not know that much more about them from extra-biblical records. But, as in all vast, sweeping historical events, little-known individuals carry out deeds of kindness, love, and bravery. They may only get a footnote in history, but their actions echo down to us today.

In this book, we are going to look at eight people whose lives were touched by Christ’s journey to the cross. Their stories will remind us that anyone, no matter their status or station in life, can draw near to the Son of God, the Savior of the world and make a contribution to His glorious kingdom. Their stories will also help believers see that their humble, loving service, no matter how small and overlooked by others, is not overlooked by God.

My prayer is that you would be blessed, encouraged, and inspired by the lives of mortal men and women caught up in the tumult of the most tragic and triumphant week in history.

—Daniel Whyte III

Fort Worth, Texas

CHAPTER ONE

Pilate’s Wife and the Nightmare from Heaven

Matthew 27:11-19

11 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.

12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?

14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

15 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.

16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

Neither the Bible nor history tells us much about Pilate’s wife. Church tradition indicates that her name was Claudia Procula, and that she later became a follower of Christ. The Greek Orthodox Church regards her as a saint. Other than that, her page in history is blank, but we do have this one verse in Matthew that shows us how her story intersected with the story of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 27:19 says, “When he (that is, Pilate) was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.”

Scientists tell us that our minds generate dreams based on events in daily life. Our dreams are also affected by what we eat and drink before we go to sleep. While most dreams of this nature are meaningless, the Bible tells us that God sometimes sends people dreams that they should pay attention to. Pilate’s wife, whom we will refer to as Claudia for the purposes of this chapter, experiences one of these kinds of dreams — a dream so terrible and dreadful that it caused anxiety or mental torment or anguish. It was a nightmare from Heaven.

It is interesting that Matthew’s Gospel begins and ends with dreams. What is of particular interest is the dreams that were sent to Gentiles: at the beginning of this Gospel, God saves the Wise Men from Herod’s wrath by sending them a dream with a warning to escape, and at the end of this Gospel, God sends a dream to Pilate’s wife which prompts her to send a warning to Pilate so that her husband would not condemn an innocent man.

We do not know the contents of Claudia’s dream. Spurgeon and other theologians have speculated that Claudia may have dreamed of one of three things. Perhaps she saw Jesus Christ suffering on the cross. Surely, the blood streaming down His body, His anguished cries, and the crown of thorns cruelly crushed atop His head would have vexed this woman’s heart. Surely it would have moved her to send a message to Pilate to have nothing to do with this “just Man.”

Perhaps she saw Christ seated in all His glory at the Great White Throne Judgment and she and her husband standing there before Him. The same One whom Pilate had judged was about to judge him and decree his eternal fate. Certainly that would have moved her greatly.

Or, perhaps, and most terribly of all, she saw her husband being tormented by flames in the dark pit that knows no bottom. Such a terrible dream — a nightmare from Heaven — would have moved her to plead with her husband for the innocent Christ to be left alone.

These are just the ideas that some have proposed down through the centuries regarding what Pilate’s wife may have dreamed about on that day when Jesus was sentenced to die. But, whatever the contents of her dream, God thought it necessary for one of the Gospel writers to include it in his account of the events of Holy Week. I believe there are three messages that are given to us through this simple, one-verse record.

Claudia’s dream contains a plea for Pilate

We know that Pilate tried to convince the Jewish leaders who had arrested Jesus to allow Him to be released simply because, in Pilate’s own words, “I find no fault in this man.” But, for Pilate, working with the Jewish leaders was like pulling teeth. Every time he presented a way for Jesus to be released, they found a way to undermine him. When Pilate presented Jesus to them as their “king,” they cried out, “We have no king but Caesar, and if you don’t put this man to death, you are no friend of Caesar’s.” When Pilate tried to get them to take Jesus back as the prisoner he traditionally freed at the time of Passover, they chose Barabbas, a murderer and a mercenary, instead of Christ. When Pilate tried to reason with them, saying that it would be wrong to kill an innocent man, they cried out, “his blood be on us and on our children.” Even after he had Jesus severely flogged, they still cried out, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

At every turn, Pilate probably felt as though he were being backed into a corner with only one way out — crucify Jesus to satisfy the blood-thirsty mob, or there would be riots in the streets of Jerusalem. Pilate had already had trouble with uprisings before, and he certainly did not want one at the time of the Passover, with over two million Jews crowding Jerusalem. Such a large crowd could have easily overwhelmed the Roman troops stationed in the region, and Pilate would not have wanted news of unrest getting back to Rome.

Pilate was moving toward letting the Jewish leaders have their way and crucifying Jesus. However, he decided to question Jesus once more. As he was sitting in the judgment hall, he received a message from his wife pleading with him, saying, “Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.”

Pilate’s wife delivered a warning to him against condemning the innocent Son of God. It seemed as though the scales were tipped against Jesus, but at this critical moment, when Pilate was about to make his final decision, God sent a message through Pilate’s wife that warned him not to be involved in condemning this innocent man. We do not know how Pilate reacted to his wife’s message. It probably made him even more eager to find a way to have Jesus released. But, he chose to do the politically convenient thing, and give the go-ahead for Jesus to be crucified.

It was a sad move for him, and it likely remained on his mind and the mind of his wife for years afterwards. Pilate must have been tormented by the memory that he had condemned the innocent Christ to death, even after his wife warned him not to do so. But we know that God was working out His sovereign plan even in such a terrible situation.

Claudia’s dream contains a plea for saints

For believers, this verse contains a very important message. When a person has seemingly hardened his heart against God, God still has a way of reaching that person — and, oftentimes, He will use a family member to do it. As followers of Christ, we must be willing to let God use us to be a witness to someone in our family who may have hardened their heart against Jesus Christ.

God may not have been able to reach Pilate’s heart any other way but through the voice of his wife, and it is oftentimes true that God will save one person in a family in order for that person to bring others in their family to Jesus Christ.

Remember the story of the man who was possessed with legions of demons? After Jesus cast the demons out of the man, and he was clothed and in his right mind, the man expressed his desire to stay with Christ. But Jesus told him, “Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And [the man] went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.”

Perhaps, you are that person in your family. You know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, but others in your family do not. God saved you so that you can be a light to those around you. Your unsaved family members may never go to church, may never read a Gospel tract, may never listen to a preacher, and may never open up the Bible, but they will listen to you, and God expects you to be a witness to them.

You may be the only person who will ever have a chance to share the gospel with them. Just as Claudia was a voice of reason to her husband, God wants you to be His voice, His hands, and His feet to your family members.

Claudia’s dream also gives us a plea for sinners

You might be just like Pilate. You have mentally put Jesus on trial. You are trying to decide whether He is who He says He is or something else. Some of you already know that He is “the way, the truth, and the life,” but you cannot bear to give up your lifestyle, and that is preventing you from making the right decision for Christ. Just like Pilate, you have a choice — Christ or convenience.

You may be afraid of what your friends will say. You may be afraid of what it will cost you socially. You may be afraid of offending some people. Charles Spurgeon once said, “Multitudes of people go to Hell because they have not the courage to fight their way to Heaven.” Revelation 21:8 says, “The fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Will you let a little earthly comfort prevent you from gaining eternal life? Will you turn your back on Jesus and say “I have nothing to do with him”? Let the dream of Pilate’s wife be a warning to you as well. This is not an issue on which you can choose to be neutral. Either you accept Christ, or you reject Him. There is no middle ground.

The 19th century Danish writer and pastor, Valdemar Thisted, wrote a novel titled, Letters from Hell. He described walking through Hell and finding Pilate there. Pilate is looking for his wife, but he cannot find her. He can only hear her anguished cry, “Oh, my dream! Alas, thou hast delivered this Just One into their hands.” In Hell, Pilate is bent over a stream, repeatedly washing his hands, and each time he draws his hands out of the water, blood still covers them. And he is stuck there for eternity, tormented by memory, trying to wash the blood of Jesus off of his hands.

Dear sinner, if you die without accepting Christ, you will suffer forever in Hell. Perhaps the greatest torment you will face is knowing that you had a chance to make the decision that would have transformed your life and changed your eternal destiny. God is giving you that chance right now. What will you do? Will you choose Christ or reject Him?

CHAPTER TWO

Simon of Cyrene: An Encounter with God on the Road to Golgotha

Mark 15:15-21

15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.

17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,

18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!

19 And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.

20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.

21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

Some of the most significant events in our lives happen unexpectedly. We do not plan them. We do not prepare for them. They seemingly happen by chance.

Let’s look at a man who had a surprise encounter with God. His name is Simon, and the Bible tells us that he was from Cyrene. Cyrene was the capital city of a Roman province in North Africa, an area which we know as Libya today. It had a sizable population of Greek-speaking Jews who had immigrated there about 300 years before Christ was born. Simon was either a member of this Jewish population, or he was a native African who worshipped the God of the Jews. Simon happened to be in Jerusalem for the observance of Passover, as many Jews who lived abroad and many Gentiles who feared God traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate this important holiday each year.

Pastor Dave Wilkinson of Moorpark Presbyterian Church in California wrote an interesting article about Simon of Cyrene. In it, he said:

Simon has come to Jerusalem for Passover from Cyrene in North Africa. Many assume he is a Jew. There were many Jews in Cyrene. But it is at least equally possible that Simon is a convert to Judaism and not Jewish by blood. Or he may be a God-fearer – a Gentile who worships the God of Israel but doesn’t keep the whole law including circumcision. We meet a number of these God-fearers in the Book of Acts. I believe the evidence suggests that Simon is not Jewish by blood but is either a convert to Judaism or a God-fearer... The evidence is certainly strong that Simon of Cyrene who carried the cross was a black man who had come first to faith in the God of Israel and then to faith in Jesus as the Messiah of Israel and savior of the world.  That may well be why Simon was the one the soldiers grabbed – he stood out from the crowd and he didn’t look Jewish... Simon later knew that he was compelled to carry the cross for Jesus only because Jesus first voluntarily carried the cross for Simon... It was God himself who had chosen to confront Simon of Cyrene.  He allowed Simon to carry the cross Jesus couldn’t carry so Jesus could die the death Simon did not want to die.

That is a powerful piece about this unsung hero of Easter.

We find that during the time of Passover, as Simon was coming out of the countryside into the city of Jerusalem, a strange procession met him. At the head of this procession was a group of Roman soldiers surrounding a beaten and bloodied man who was struggling to carry a cross up the hillside. Behind them, were spectators, Jewish religious leaders, and women weeping. Simon probably tried to get out of the way, but his curiosity got the better of him, and he joined the crowd lining the street to watch the procession. As it passed before him, the Man carrying the cross stumbled and fell. Despite the urging of the soldiers, He was unable to carry the cross any further.

One of the soldiers looks into the crowd of spectators. He sees Simon standing there and grabs him, pulls him into the pathway, and orders him to pick up the cross and carry it up the hillside. Any number of men could have been chosen to carry Jesus’ cross. But God saw fit that Simon was standing in that exact place at that exact time for him to be called on to bear the cross of Christ. As he stooped down to lift the heavy wooden beam, Simon found himself face-to-face with God.

People often meet God in the unlikeliest of places and under the unlikeliest of circumstances. As Paul says in the book of Acts, “God is not far from every one of us.” And it is a beautiful thing when God decides to reveal Himself to an unsuspecting person. Simon was perhaps on his way to join his family in Jerusalem for the Passover celebration when God interrupted his plans and said, ‘I want you to bear the cross of My Holy Son and the Saviour of the world, Jesus Christ.’

The beauty of cross-bearing

Simon probably did not think that helping a criminal carry a cross was something he would be doing once he got to Jerusalem. As his grip closed on the rough wood, he probably wondered, ‘Why me? Look at all these people standing around. Why did they have to pick me?’ When God thrusts us into an uncomfortable situation, isn’t that how we react? We wonder, ‘Why is this happening to me?’ But eventually we come to the realization that God is directing us, and we learn to trust His leadership.

However, Simon was not bearing a cross for a common criminal. He was bearing the cross for the Son of God. Because of this surprise encounter with God, his life, and the life of his entire family was changed. Sometime later, Simon became a follower of Christ and a member of the early church. His sons, Alexander and Rufus, became missionaries and were well known among the early church leaders. Some scholars believe that the mother of Rufus, whom Paul mentions in the book of Romans, was the wife of this Simon named in the Gospel of Mark.

What may have seemed like a bad situation for Simon of Cyrene was actually a beautiful thing. Simon was on his way to continue the Jewish Passover ritual, but God interrupted him and said, ‘I want you to help my Son, the lamb of God, carry His cross to Calvary.’

Have you been burdened with a cross of your own? Has God suddenly taken you out of your comfort zone and thrust you into a difficult situation? It may seem unfair at first, but you must choose to trust God. God may be taking you out of a dead situation and placing you on the path to a better life. Because Simon had an encounter with God on the road to Golgotha, his neat plans for his trip to Jerusalem were shaken up, and he was exposed to the beautiful salvation story as it was unfolding.

The burden of cross-bearing

While the end result of Simon’s encounter with Jesus Christ was a beautiful thing, his journey up to Golgotha was difficult. It was brutal and bloody. Cruel Roman soldiers hurried them along likely cracking whips, jabbing them with spear butts, and cursing along the way. A jeering, judgmental crowd followed them. A few weeping, compassionate women tried to get close to Jesus. The heavy, wooden beam pressed into Simon’s back. It was not easy carrying Christ’s cross.

But Simon is not the only one tasked with that burden. In a different way, each of us are compelled to carry the cross of Christ. Jesus commanded His followers, “Take up your cross and follow me.” The cross is a heavy burden. Often, it comes with shame, ridicule, and persecution. Carrying the cross of Christ may mean severing ties with family members and friends, turning our backs on a well-paying job, or giving up our comfortable lifestyle. I am reminded of a song titled “Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone”:

Must Jesus bear the cross alone,

And all the world go free?

No, there’s a cross for everyone,

And there’s a cross for me.

How happy are the saints above,

Who once went sorrowing here!

But now they taste unmingled love,

And joy without a tear.

The consecrated cross I’ll bear

Till death shall set me free;

And then go home my crown to wear,

For there’s a crown for me.

Upon the crystal pavement down

At Jesus’ pierced feet,

Joyful I’ll cast my golden crown

And His dear Name repeat.

O precious cross! O glorious crown!

O resurrection day!

When Christ the Lord from Heav’n comes down

And bears my soul away.

Like Simon, we are often called to bear our cross as the whole world is focused on us. It is easy to run away from cross-bearing, or to claim that we are serving God when no one is watching us. But Simon was, as President Theodore Roosevelt wrote, “the man in the arena.” He had to endure the jeers and taunts that the mob threw at Jesus. He had to endure the sanctimonious, judgmental stares from the high priests and their cohorts. He got a first-hand taste of what it really meant to suffer with Christ. When we are called to pick up our cross and follow Christ, we will also face the scorn and ridicule of those who hate the Savior.

Thank God, Simon didn't refuse to be publicly identified with Jesus Christ. While Jesus’ disciples were in hiding, afraid that the Jewish authorities were going to come for them, Simon is the one at Jesus’ side, helping Him carry His cross. Bearing the cross of Christ is not an easy task. It is not for the faint of heart. It is a burden we are compelled to bear now for unspeakable blessings later.

The blessing of cross-bearing

Even though cross-bearing is difficult, there is a certain blessing mixed in with this difficulty. Realizing these blessings will help us bear our cross with confidence. One of the blessings is knowing that we are following in Christ’s footsteps. Jesus said, “take up thy cross and FOLLOW me.” In other words, we are not blazing a new trail, we are following a path that has already been paved for us.

Second, in cross-bearing, we can identify with the Son of God. In fact, we have the companionship of Christ on this journey. If you have ever gone through a time of grieving in your life over the death of someone you loved, the greatest comfort you can have is someone else who has gone through the same thing. Not someone who has read about how to comfort the grieving in a book; but someone who has actually grieved themselves. It is a great blessing to know that we are not alone in our hardships. We can identify with Christ, because He suffered far greater than we will ever suffer.

John Newton wrote a hymn about the difficulty of following Christ. He said:

His way was much rougher

and darker than mine;

Did Jesus thus suffer,

and shall I repine?

Since all that I meet

shall work for my good,

the bitter is sweet,

the medicine is food.

Though painful at present,

‘twill cease before long;

and then, O how pleasant

the conqueror’s song!

It is a blessed thing when we are called into the service of the Lord — to take part in His sufferings, to share in His ridicule, and to follow His example in bearing the cross. Simon of Cyrene had to do it. God stepped into his life and changed it forever. Simon could have been just another one of those spectators watching the procession to Golgotha. But, in God’s great and merciful providence, Simon was “compelled” to carry Christ's cross. Because of his actions, his name found a place in the Bible, and because Simon decided to not only follow Christ up the hillside to Calvary, but to follow Him for the rest of his life and into eternity, his name found a place in the book of life as well.

CHAPTER THREE

Mary: Peace in the Midst of the Storm

John 19:25-27

25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

We often speak of Mary in her role of giving birth to Jesus Christ. Not much attention is paid to Mary’s presence at Jesus’ crucifixion. However, this detail is so important that all four of the Gospel narratives record Mary’s presence at the foot of the cross.

Before we get deep into the significance of Mary at the foot of the cross, I want to be clear that, unlike many Catholics, we do not worship or pray to Mary. Mary is just a woman who God saw fit to use to bring His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world. Pastor and author, Dr. John Macarthur, says as much in his expansive teaching on the heresies of the Catholic church:

Catholic tradition dictates that Mary is part of the monarchy of heaven, soliciting grace and mercy from the Lord on behalf of sinners, and covering sin by distributing from her Treasury of Merit. She became a co-redeemer with Christ in His suffering on the cross, and is now a co-mediator alongside Him in heaven—essentially an alternative avenue of access to God. She replaces the Holy Spirit in bestowing aid and comfort to believers. In effect, she becomes an additional member of the Trinity... Scripture actually has very little to say about Mary. There’s no description of her physical appearance, nothing about her life, her later years after Christ’s death, or her own death and burial. And when she does briefly appear with the disciples and the other believers on the day of Pentecost, she’s not an object of worship or even a leader in the early church—she’s just one among many. There simply are no biblical examples of anyone ever praying to her, honoring her, or venerating her.

Mary was just a young woman from an ordinary family when the calling of God first came on her life. She was told by the angel Gabriel that she would give birth to a child. Of course, this was news that turned her whole life upside down. She had the unenviable task of explaining to her family and to Joseph, whom she was engaged to, that she was pregnant and yet still a virgin. She gave birth in a manger surrounded not by family and friends, but by animals. Shortly after that, she had to escape to Egypt because King Herod wanted her child dead. And when she and Joseph returned to Israel, Mary, like all mothers, had to deal with the difficult process of Jesus Christ growing up, becoming a man, and moving out to do his “father’s business.”

When Mary and Joseph took the infant Jesus up to the Temple, a man of God named Simeon told Mary, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

I have often wondered what Simeon meant by saying that a sword would pierce Mary’s soul. Perhaps he was trying to tell Mary that life after giving birth to the Son of God would not be easy. There would be difficult things she had to go through emotionally and spiritually. Like any mother would, Mary felt pain every time she heard insults, accusations, and slander against God’s Son whom she had been used to bring into the world. The lashes of the whip that tore at Jesus’ skin, tore at Mary’s soul. There were probably countless times when she wanted to rush to Jesus’ defense. But, not one time in the Bible do we see Mary in the middle of an outburst. She never made a scene. She didn’t try to take matters into her own hands. Whenever we see Mary, we see a calm, strong, peaceful woman. What was Mary’s secret? What caused her to be so peaceful in the midst of the storms and upheaval that surrounded her firstborn son?

Mary was a woman of faith — she trusted in God

From the moment the angel told her that she would give birth to the Son of God, Mary could have chosen not to believe God. Yet, almost every time we see her in the Gospels, she demonstrates a quiet, sincere faith in God.

She never tried to do things on her own. She never tried to use her status as the woman who gave birth to Jesus Christ to manipulate others. She was willing to be used as a vessel as a part of God’s plan, and from then on, she trusted God for the outcome.

Adela Galindo wrote, “Mary’s faith was constant, not only present in the times of ‘apparent glory’ when her Son was performing miracles and had many disciples that believed in Him; it was just as strong when there was no ‘apparent glory,’ when there were no supernatural manifestations or happenings to attract attention, and even when there were not that many disciples with Him.”

We need to learn the power of simple faith in God. We need to learn to trust God like Mary did. We have to choose to trust in God when we can understand everything and when we have no idea what is going on. We must trust in God when nothing seems to make sense about God’s plan.

Mary was willing to let God’s will be done

Even as she stood at the foot of the cross, everything inside of Mary must have screamed against what was happening to the Son of God. She knew that it was unfair and unjust, but I believe she also knew that it was part of God’s plan for Jesus.

Early on in her life, Mary decided to give herself to God for His use. In Luke 1:38, after the angel has delivered his message about the child she will bear, Mary says, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” Right then and there, Mary resigned herself to God’s will. There were likely many things that Mary wished she could change about her life. But Mary accepted that “God’s ways are not our ways,” and she was still willing for God to use her.

It is easy for us to accept God’s will when everything is going the way we want it to or when something we think is good is happening. It was easy for Mary to accept God’s will when the wise men were coming to give gifts to Jesus or when Jesus was performing miracles and the multitudes loved Him. That made it all the harder to watch Jesus being rejected, beaten, mocked, and crucified. But Mary knew that this was also a part of God’s will, and she patiently stood by Jesus as He suffered on the cross for her sins and the sins of the world.

Mary persevered until the very end

One of the wonderful things about Mary and the other women who followed Jesus is that they never faltered in their loyalty to Him. One disciple betrayed Jesus. Another disciple denied that he even knew Jesus. The rest of the disciples fled when Jesus was arrested. But we see none of this in the life of Mary. She was literally with Jesus from the beginning to the end.

After Jesus’ resurrection, we find that Mary did not just consider Jesus Christ her son, but her Saviour. The book of Acts tells us that she was with the disciples in the Upper Room waiting on the Holy Spirit to descend. Here we see a beautiful changing of roles. When Jesus was born, He, like any baby, needed assistance and help. He had to be taught and trained. But, now, Jesus Christ has died and has risen from the dead — He is the Saviour of the world. So, Jesus is the Saviour and Lord, and Mary is another one of His disciples. In fact, contrary to false Catholic teaching, Mary is not the mother of God. Jesus is in fact her Heavenly Father, her God, and her Saviour from sin and hell. Now, I know that upsets some folks, but I believe with all my heart that Mary would not be offended by that at all, because the humble, sweet Mary never saw herself the way the Catholic church is representing her today.

Imagine how rewarding it must have been when Mary found out on Sunday morning that Jesus Christ had risen from the dead. Imagine the joy and gladness that sprung up in Mary’s heart. She had stuck by Jesus in His darkest hours, and now, she could rejoice in His resurrection. Because she persevered until the very end, her faith was rewarded.

For those of us who are followers of Christ, we are called to demonstrate the same obedience to God’s plan that Mary demonstrated. We can have the same peace in the midst of the storms of life if we are trusting in the Lord.

CHAPTER FOUR

John: The Disciple Who Loved Jesus to the Very End

John 19:25-27

25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

In the midst of the Passion story, we often overlook the one disciple who stayed close to Jesus throughout the trial and crucifixion. This disciple was the Apostle John. He was a man who came from a family of some means, he owned a house in Jerusalem, and he was the younger brother of James. He and his brother were dubbed by Christ the “sons of thunder” due to their hot tempers. John was a fisherman and likely first heard about Jesus from the preaching of John the Baptist who proclaimed Christ to be the “lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” Shortly thereafter, Jesus called John to become a fisher of men, and John left his occupation to follow Christ. Along with James and Peter, he became a member of Christ’s inner circle of disciples.

John is referred to as the disciple whom Jesus loved. As you read John’s Gospel, you will notice that love is one of John’s major themes, along with the themes of truth and light. John repeatedly contrasts truth with lies, light with darkness, and love with hate. In the three epistles which bear his name, these themes are reiterated over and over again.

I believe that just as Jesus loved John, John loved Jesus. John was the disciple who sat beside Jesus at the Last Supper. In Jewish culture, the person who sat beside a host at dinner was considered an honored guest. When Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, John and Peter were the only ones to follow Him to the place where the trial was being held. Because John was acquanited with the high priest, he was let in. Perhaps he was able to observe the trial. He followed Jesus once the Jewish authorities took him to Pilate, and he followed Jesus from the place of His trial to Golgotha. We find him standing with Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene at the foot of the cross.

Why did John stay with Jesus when all of the other disciples had fled? I believe it is simply because, throughout his experience following Jesus Christ, John realized that Jesus was truly God’s Son, and that as such, God was demonstrating His love for the world through Jesus Christ. Let’s look at what this meant in the life of the Apostle John.

John experienced true love

John was an eyewitness to the unconditional love of Jesus Christ. Jesus expressed His love for His disciples in His prayer for them in John 17. He said, “I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.” Jesus wanted His disciples to experience the same love from God that Jesus Himself felt from His Heavenly Father.

When the Bible describes Jesus’ love for John, it uses the words agape and phileo. Agape is the divine, unconditional love that Jesus had for John and all of His disciples. The word phileo shows that Jesus considered John His friend. Even though the disciples were sinful men like you and me, Jesus still loved them and considered them His friends. And that same love is bestowed on us today. As C.S. Lewis said, “He loved us not because we are lovable, but because He is love.”

Not only did John experience Jesus’ love in life, but he also saw Jesus demonstrate tremendous love in His death. As he stood at the foot of the cross, John saw how Jesus patiently suffered and died. He heard Jesus say of those who crucified Him, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” He heard Jesus’ promise to the repentant thief: “Today, you will be with me in Paradise.”

When Jesus said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends,” He really meant it. And that love is what drove Jesus to the cross. John wrote that Jesus ‘had loved his own which were in the world and he loved them unto the end.’ Jesus loved his disciples ‘to the uttermost’ — to the very end.

John was called to demonstrate love

As Jesus hung on the cross, He looked down, and the Bible tells us that He saw John and His mother standing there. Jesus “saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.”

Even as He hung on the cross, Jesus was thinking about others. He made sure His mother Mary would be taken care of, and He called on John, the beloved disciple, to do it. Jesus wanted Mary to be comforted during her sorrow, and He knew that His closest disciple would be able to provide this comfort.

John demonstrated Christ’s love for his fellow believers in the letters that he wrote to them telling them how they should live as Christians. Because he knew what Christ’s love looked like, he also knew what it meant to show that love to others.

The early church historian, Eusebius, recorded a story which illustrates the character of the Apostle John. In his old age, while John was in Smyrna to mediate a dispute, he left a young convert in the care of the newly appointed bishop, who was to supervise the youth’s spiritual training. However, after the young man was baptized, the bishop lost track of him. The young man fell into bad company and eventually became the leader of a group of bandits who stole from people and engaged in other kinds of crime and violence.

When John returned to Smyrna and inquired about the new convert, the embarrassed bishop told him that the young man was now the leader of a group of bandits. Despite his age, John jumped on a horse and galloped off into the countryside to find the wayward convert. Soon, he was surrounded by the gang members and he asked them to take him to their leader.

When the leader of the bandits saw John approaching, he turned and ran. But John called out: “Don’t run from me, your spiritual father, who is unarmed and very old. Be sorry for me, child, not afraid of me. You still have hope of life. I will account to Christ for you. To save you I will give my very own life.”

The young man turned around and approached the apostle. He flung his arms around John sobbing in repentance. John took him back to Smyrna and helped him get reestablished in the church.

Isn’t it interesting that John does the same thing that Jesus Christ described Himself as doing? Just as Jesus, the Good Shepherd, goes after one little lost lamb even though ninety-nine are safe, John went after this young man to bring him back into the fold. John spent the rest of his life demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ.

John encouraged others to live a life of love

Not only did John experience Jesus’ love and demonstrate Jesus’ love, but he encouraged others to live a life of love after the pattern of Jesus Christ.

There is more about love in John’s short epistles than in any other place in the Bible. Edward F. Markquart said, “Before the Epistle of First John was written, no one had thought about love and written about love in such depth and with such profundity.” The word “love” is mentioned fifteen times in twenty-eight chapters in the Gospel of Mathew; six times in sixteen chapters in the Gospel of Mark; and fifteen times in twenty-four chapters in the Gospel of Luke. But it is mentioned twenty-seven times in twenty-one chapters in the Gospel of John, and it is mentioned thirty-five times in five chapters in the short letter of First John.

Because of John’s experience with Jesus Christ, he understood the true meaning of love, and he wrote to challenge all of us to live up to Christ’s standard of love. He urges us to make love the driving force behind all that we do as followers of Jesus Christ. Why do we obey God? Because of love. Why do we treat our neighbors as we want to be treated? Because of love. Why do we reach out to the lost? Because of love. Why do we give to the poor and needy? Because of love.

First John 3:18 says, “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” That is the challenge for Christians today — to love God and others like John loved God and others, and more importantly, to love like Christ loved. The love that Christ has shown for us should be planted in our hearts like a seed, and we should let it grow so that it extends and overflows out of our lives and into the lives of others.

CHAPTER FIVE

The Roman Centurion: A Change of Heart

Mark 15:37-39

37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

39 And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

The Roman Centurion who was in charge of carrying out the crucifixion was one of the people in closest proximity to Jesus during his final hours. A centurion was a Roman army officer normally in command of about sixty to eighty soldiers. This centurion may have carried out or witnessed dozens of crucifixions during his career. He was a hardened soldier and not easily affected by a criminal’s cries of pain and agony. Yet, we find that this Roman Centurion was so affected by the manner in which Jesus died, that he ended up admitting what Jesus’ disciples and His beloved followers believed — that He was the Son of God.

How did the centurion come to this conclusion? It is quite likely that he did not see any of Jesus’ miracles. He had not sat among the multitudes who listened to Jesus’ teaching. What did he see in those final hours of Jesus’ life that caused him to make this admission? I believe the centurion saw three things about Jesus that convinced him that Jesus Christ is indeed the Son of God.

The Centurion saw Jesus’ strength

As Jesus was put on trial, he demonstrated tremendous strength in the way he handled the accusations that were made against Him. He never answered His accusers. He never tried to defend himself. His showed great strength and restraint by not fighting back. As Pastor William G. Carter said, “Pilate has the army, but Jesus has the power. Pilate has the throne, but Jesus has the authority. Pilate asks the questions, but Jesus holds all the answers.”

As Jesus was being led up the hill of Golgotha to be crucified, He did not struggle against what was going to happen to Him. I’m sure the centurion had seen many criminals protesting their innocence all the way up until the moment of crucifixion. He certainly would have expected an innocent man to try to do everything he could to get out of being crucified. He had probably had many criminals beg him for mercy. But he saw none of that in Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 12:2 says that Jesus Christ “patiently endured the cross.” Jesus was actually the one in control of the whole situation. Everything was going as the Father had planned. Jesus knew that He would have to undergo such tremendous pain and suffering, and He willingly did so for us. The centurion saw that, in His death, Jesus was concerned about others. Instead of becoming bitter and angry, he heard when Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Jesus’ strength in His death was a powerful testimony to the Roman Centurion.

The Centurion saw Jesus’ serenity

Not only did Jesus show great strength, but He showed great peace in his death. Most people meet death struggling to find a way to get out of it. But, Jesus Christ willingly went to the cross. The reason He was able to demonstrate great peacefulness in His death is because He knew that He was fulfilling God’s purpose for His life.

When Pilate was interrogating Jesus, Jesus told him, “To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.” Jesus knew why He had come to earth, and he knew that God’s purpose would not have been accomplished if He did not go to the cross. He did not want to go to the cross, but in the Garden of Gethsemane, He came to peace with the fact that He would have to do so.

Howard Hendricks said, “There was no identity crisis in the life of Jesus Christ. He knew who He was. He knew where He had come from, and why He was here. And He knew where He was going.” The issue of the cross was settled in Jesus’ heart and mind long before the nails were driven into His hands.

The Roman Centurion saw fear and anguish on the faces of criminals who were about to be crucified. But he didn’t see that in Jesus Christ. Instead, he saw an inexplicable peace — a peace that came from knowing that what He was doing was God’s will.

The Centurion saw Jesus’ sympathy

In his waning moments on the cross, Jesus demonstrated His love and care for others. At a time when most people would have been concerned only about themselves and easing their pain, Jesus showed that He was most concerned about the people around Him.

When Jesus looked down from the cross and saw His mother standing there weeping for Him, He immediately entrusted her caretaking to His disciple, John. He made sure that His mother would be taken care of. That must have made a powerful impression on the centurion.

But what likely made more of an impression on him was when the thief, who was crucified beside Jesus, testified of Jesus’ innocence and said, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Perhaps as he heard this exchange, the centurion thought, ‘I would like to one day be in paradise. If a thief will be in Paradise, certainly I can go there as well.’

Jesus’ love and concern for others, even as He hung on the cross, was a powerful testimony to God’s love and concern for us.

Through the whole ordeal, the centurion witnessed the strength of Jesus. He endured things that would have completely destroyed anyone else. Most people would have never made it as far as Jesus had, and they certainly would not have been so quiet in accepting such terrible punishment.

The centurion also witnessed the serenity of Jesus. Jesus’ peace and calm showed that He was accepting the Father’s plan for His life. Did the centurion fully understand why Jesus had such peace? No. But the centurion saw something within Jesus’ actions that caused him to think about who Jesus really is.

The centurion also witnessed Jesus’ sympathy — how much Jesus cared for others even as He was dying. Such love and care can only come from the heart of a person who is confident in His own purpose.

Luke tells us that at the end of the day, the centurion’s conclusion was this: “he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.” And when he saw how Jesus died, Mark tells us that he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God.”

I don’t know whether this centurion ever gave his life to Christ. The Bible does not tell us that. But, we do know that he became convinced about who Jesus was, and his testimony is recorded in Scripture.

CHAPTER SIX

Joseph of Arimathea: A ‘Secret Believer’ Who Sacrificed for Jesus

Mark 15:42-47

42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,

43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.

44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.

45 And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.

47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

Joseph of Arimathea was a member of the Sanhedrin — the Jewish religious council which had condemned Jesus to be crucified. He was a wealthy man and he was also a secret believer in Jesus Christ. Arimathea was a city in Judea.

We do not know more about Joseph from the Bible, but other sources say that Joseph gained his wealth by trading metal, which was a much needed product in the Roman Empire. Some say that he was an uncle of Mary, and thus a blood relative of Jesus Christ.

After Jesus’ ascension, it is believed that Joseph became a missionary, traveled through Europe with other early followers of Christ, and eventually took the Gospel to Britain which was the northern-most fringe of the Roman Empire. In Britain, he is said to have built the first official church building near what is present-day Glastonbury. At that time Christians still met in houses. It is interesting that near the ruins of this church, there is a plant known as the Glastonbury Thorn which buds twice a year only around the Easter and Christmas seasons. This plant originally came from the eastern Mediterranean area.

We don’t know how much of this is accurate, but many people in the early church recognized the significant role that Joseph played in the Gospel story. In fact, Joseph’s burial of Jesus Christ is recorded in all four of the Gospels. Let’s briefly look at what makes Joseph stand out.

Joseph was a searching man

The Bible tells us that Joseph was a man who “waited for the kingdom of God.” Like many Jews during that time, Joseph had an expectation that the Messiah would come to save his people from their sins. He was on the lookout for such a person to arrive.

The fact that he was searching for this special Savior indicates that he knew something was missing in his life and in the life of his people, the children of Israel. He probably had realized that the old sacrificial system was not sufficient, and that something else had to be done for the sins of the people to be paid for. Even Caiaphas, the high priest, had interestingly and strangely remarked that it would be expedient for one man to die for all the people.

Many people today are also searching. They know that something is missing from their lives. Perhaps they have tried to satisfy that longing with relationships, rituals, romance, or riches. But nothing can fill the “God-shaped vacuum” that is in every man’s heart except Jesus Christ.

Somehow, Joseph became convinced that what he was looking for could be found in Jesus Christ. Even though he didn’t publicly identify himself as a follower of Jesus Christ until much later, he realized that Jesus Christ was the hope for the Jewish nation, for the world, and for himself. It must have pained Joseph to see his fellow members of the Sanhedrin casting accusations against the Son of God and urging the crowd to call for his crucifixion. It must have pained him to see Jesus — the hope of the world — dragged away to be crucified. But perhaps he realized that God was working out His perfect plan in all of this, because Jesus Christ was indeed the lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world.

Joseph was a sincere man

Yes, for a while, Joseph was secretly loyal, but when the chips were down, he didn’t lose faith when it looked like all was lost.

After seeing so much light, hope, and goodness during the three years of Jesus’ ministry, the world certainly seemed like a dark and empty place in those hours after Jesus died on the cross. The disciples were in hiding. Many of Jesus’ followers were mourning. It seemed as though the devil’s plot to destroy Jesus had succeeded. Yet, Joseph finds the courage to carry out the simple act of asking for Jesus’ body from the cross.

One commentator has remarked that, “In the hours of crisis it is often the Peters who have sworn loyalty to Jesus with big gestures and fullness of self-confidence, that disappoint, and it is the secret and quiet followers of the Master (like Joseph, Nicodemus, and the women) that do not hesitate to serve Him in love — at whatever the cost.”

Joseph retained a glimmer of hope in the midst of a day of despair. Adam Clarke said, “Strange as it may appear, the death of Jesus is the grand cause of confidence and courage to a believing soul.” Even when others had turned away from Jesus, Joseph was loyal to Him even when it seemed like all was lost.

Joseph was willing to sacrifice

When Joseph acquired Jesus’ body from the cross, the Bible informs us that he laid it in his own tomb. The fact that Joseph did this indicates the level of respect that Joseph had for Jesus Christ. Most people during that time were buried in stone boxes in the ground. But the wealthy people had great tombs carved out of rock. Such a tomb cost a lot of time and money to make.

After Jesus was already dead, there were not many ways in which Joseph could serve Jesus, but he did serve Him in a way in which no one else did or could. Peter, James, John, or even the  women who served Jesus could not provide a tomb, but Joseph could and did. Joseph gave up something that showed his status in society for the Son of God. It was quite a sacrifice for Joseph of Arimathea to give up his tomb — but, thank God, it was only going to be for a few days!

Not only was Joseph willing to give up his tomb, but he was willing to risk his honor and reputation to make sure that Jesus was buried in dignity. Normally, when people were crucified, the bodies were left hanging on the cross. The bodies would rot, and the flesh would be eaten by birds. Joseph made sure that this would not happen to Jesus’ body. It seemed not to matter to him whether the other religious leaders found out that he was caring for Jesus’ body. After the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross, Joseph was willing to sacrifice his tomb and his reputation for Jesus.

How should Joseph’s actions encourage us today? As believers, it should make us willing to sacrifice for Christ. When we look at what Jesus did for us on the cross, we should be willing to do anything no matter the cost for Him.

For those of you who are not saved, you should be encouraged to give your life to Christ no matter the cost. Will it cost you? Yes, it will. You may have to give up some old habits. You may have to give up some old friends and relationships. Giving your life to Christ could lead to disagreements with your family. But if God were willing to sacrifice His Son for you, shouldn’t you be willing to sacrifice something for Him?

CHAPTER SEVEN

Nicodemus: Another Secret Saint Who Came Through for Jesus in the End

John 19:38-42

38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.

39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

40 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.

41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.

42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

Nicodemus was a Pharisee and, like Joseph of Arimathea, he was also a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish religious council. We mostly remember Nicodemus as the one who “came to Jesus by night.” The Jewish Talmud identifies Nicodemus as Nicodemus ben Gurion, one of the three richest men in Jerusalem at that time. It is said that the combined wealth of these three men could have kept Jerusalem running for twenty-one years.

After Jesus’ death, Nicodemus joined Joseph of Arimathea in taking Jesus’ body down from the cross. He provided expensive spices to be used in the burial of the Lord. Church tradition indicates that Nicodemus was martyred for the faith in the first century.

It does not appear that Nicodemus had an instantaneous conversion. Rather, he went through a process of carefully considering Jesus’ words and actions, and eventually came to a conclusion about who Jesus was. Nicodemus enters the Gospel narrative three times, and each of his appearances tell us something about how he came to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Saviour of the world.

Nicodemus is curious about Jesus

John 3:1-2 tells us, “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night...” Nicodemus had heard about Jesus, and he realized that there was something special about Him. The multitudes were flocking to hear Him. He was working great miracles. The commoners couldn’t stop singing His praises. Nicodemus was intrigued by this person named Jesus. He was curious about who He was.

I believe that Nicodemus was an intellectual type of individual. He did not jump to conclusions without first thoroughly examining the evidence. He was the type of man who liked to hear every side of an argument before making up his mind. He had heard what the people said about Jesus — they loved Him. He had heard what the religious leaders said about Jesus — they hated Him. Now, he wanted to hear what Jesus had to say about Himself. So, he decides to go and meet Jesus under the cover of darkness.

When he meets Jesus, he says, “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.” Jesus and Nicodemus have a long conversation. Some of the greatest truths about the Gospel are given in the Bible’s record of this conversation. Nicodemus asks questions about what it means to be born again. And Jesus answers them, showing him the way to eternal life. It is from this conversation that we have the famous words in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

From this conversation, Nicodemus begins to better understand who Jesus is and why he has come into the world. At this point, Nicodemus secretly becomes favorable to Jesus Christ. In other words, he becomes a fan of Jesus. Pastor Kyle Idleman wrote in his bestselling book, Not a Fan, that a person who is a fan of Jesus is an “enthusiastic admirer.” He is not ready to take the leap into being a follower yet. You see, being a fan costs nothing, but being a follower will always costs something. Nicodemus liked Jesus, but he was not yet willing to pay the cost of being a follower of Christ.

Nicodemus is concerned about Jesus

In John chapter seven, the Pharisees are plotting to have Jesus arrested. They send men to capture Jesus, but the men come back empty-handed. When asked why they have not brought Jesus with them, the men respond, “Never man spake like this man.” The religious leaders are concerned that some of their own are beginning to believe on Jesus Christ. They want to put an end to Jesus’ teaching because He is drawing all of the attention away from them.

At this point, Nicodemus speaks up. He says, “Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?” In other words, Nicodemus is saying to the other Pharisees, why don’t you go and listen to Him and find out what He is doing before you judge Him. Nicodemus is concerned about Jesus. He is worried that the Pharisees are going to ruin a good thing, so he makes a risky move and speaks up on Jesus’ behalf.

Nicodemus doesn’t want the Pharisees to write Jesus off as just another popular leader who will fade away soon. But the Pharisees respond sarcastically. They say, “Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.”

Nicodemus knows that there is something different about Jesus. He has begun to seriously consider what it would cost to follow Him. Jesus’ words from their night-time discussion have stuck with Him. Perhaps he has begun to see that what he and the other Pharisees have been doing for a long time really leads nowhere, but Jesus has promised him eternal life. And that is an offer that is hard to refuse.

Nicodemus is committed to Jesus

In other words, he has decided to cast his lot with Jesus Christ and His followers. The Bible says, “there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.”

After the crucifixion, Nicodemus joins Joseph in caring for Jesus’ body. If the body of Christ had not been claimed by these two men, it would have been thrown into Gehenna, or the Valley of Hinnom, where the residents of Jerusalem dumped and burned their garbage. The bodies of criminals were also thrown into this valley. Nicodemus showed his devotion and commitment to Jesus by bringing a large amount of spices to anoint Jesus’ body with as they wrapped it in linen. Normally, such a large amount of spices was reserved only for the death of kings, but it was certainly appropriate for the King of Kings to be buried in such a manner.

The spices would also be used to prevent the body from decaying. Some believe that Nicodemus had recalled the Old Testament prediction that Jesus’ body “would not see corruption” and that he and Joseph had a vague expectation that Jesus would rise from the dead. That is why they were willing to give so much to preserve the Lord’s body.

Nicodemus had once just been a curious admirer of Jesus Christ. But now, he came out as a committed follower. The Talmud records that Nicodemus gave away all of his wealth after Jesus’ death. He had seen how Jesus loved extravagantly to the point where He gave His own life to save others. And that extraordinary act made such an impact on Nicodemus’ life, that he was willing to give up his wealth, his status, and his position for Jesus Christ.

How does Nicodemus’ story apply to us today?

You may be just like Nicodemus was at first. You are curious about Jesus. You are willing to acknowledge Jesus as a great teacher. You may even want to know more about who He is. You are only willing to acknowledge Jesus in the dark — away from your friends, family, and co-workers — where it won’t cost you anything. You may have status, influence, or a reputation that you want to protect. You’re just a curious fan.

By the grace of God, Nicodemus was born again and he showed that he was by his actions. He knew what the cost would be, but realized that Jesus was worth far more than any shame, ridicule, or embarrassment that he would endure.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Mary Magdalene: The First Person to See the Risen Christ

Mark 16:1-9

1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?

4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

Mary Magdalene was the first person to see Jesus Christ after He rose from the dead. She is one of the more popular figures in the Gospel narratives and is mentioned in all four Gospels. She is the woman out of whom Christ cast seven devils. Some have identified Mary Magdalene as the prostitute or “sinful woman” who washed Jesus’ feet. However, the Bible does not explicitly state that.

We do know that Mary Magdalene was a woman of some means because the Bible says that she attended to Christ and helped provide for the needs of his ministry. Luke 8:2-3 state, “And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, ministered unto him of their substance.”

To many scholars and theologians down through the years, it has been significant that Jesus Christ chose to appear to a woman, and especially to Mary Magdalene, after His resurrection. Let’s look at some possible reasons why.

Mary Magdalene represented a direct triumph over the devil and his plan

Mark 16:9 states, “Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene...” Of course, we can be content to know that Christ simply appeared to Mary Magdalene first because He chose to do so. But I believe it is safe for us to say that Christ appeared to a woman first as a symbolic expression that the curse of sin that had been brought on humanity by the actions of a woman had been completely removed.

It was a woman, Eve, who was first tempted by the devil and chose to obey him. It was a woman, Mary Magdalene, who was delivered from seven devils and chose to obey Christ. It was a woman, Eve, who turned her back on God in the Garden of Eden. Now, it was a woman, Mary Magdalene, who came searching for Christ in the Garden of the Resurrection. Excuse the expression, but by Christ appearing to a woman first after His resurrection, He was giving Satan a slap in the face. He was saying, ‘all that was lost because of how you deceived Eve is now regained because of My rising from the dead.’

Charles Spurgeon said, ‘A woman was first in the transgression — let her be first in the justification. In a garden she was first to work our woe — let her in that other garden be the first to see Him who works our happiness.’

Thank God for Mary Magdalene, a woman who chose to follow Christ, and remained devoted to Christ even after his death.

Jesus wanted to show that he died and rose from the dead FOR SINNERS

Verse 9 of our passage notes that Mary Magdalene is the one “out of whom Christ had cast seven devils.” Most of the passages which refer to Mary Magdalene never leave out this detail. And, I believe this detail gives us another reason why Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene first after His resurrection — Jesus wanted to make it clear that He came to save SINNERS.

At one time, Mary Magdalene was filled with demonic spirits, and there is no telling what kind of evil those spirits led her to do. She was a great sinner who had experienced a great deliverance. When she met Jesus Christ, He delivered her from the demons which had held her in bondage for some time. She was free from the darkness and despair of those days. No longer would she have to be a servant to sin and Satan. She was now a follower and servant of Jesus Christ.

Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene to let us know that if a person who was filled with seven devils can be saved and delivered, any of us can be saved and delivered as well. This simple truth that Paul expressed has spoken to my heart for years: “that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.”

We can thank God for people like Paul and people like Mary Magdalene who were great sinners who met a great Savior and experienced great deliverance. They found out what it truly means to be ‘delivered from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God.’

Jesus always comes to those who are searching for Him

John 20, verse 1 says, “The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark...” Remember that Joseph and Nicodemus had to bury Jesus hastily on Friday evening because the Sabbath was about to begin. Even though they wrapped Jesus’ body in linen and embalmed it with expensive spices, Mary and Mary Magdalene still wanted to anoint the body themselves. In their minds, it was probably the least they could do for the Saviour who had done so much for them.

So Mary Magdalene came early to look for the Savior. When she saw that he was not there, she stayed at the tomb weeping. After speaking with two angels who were sitting inside the tomb, she turns away from the tomb entrance and sees someone standing there whom she assumes is the gardener. She tells him, “Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.” She assumes that Jesus is still dead, and she wants to care for His body.

What a wonderful moment it must have been when she realized that she is speaking to Jesus Christ Himself. The Bible says, “Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabbi; which is to say, Master.” Jesus came to Mary because Mary was searching for Him. And, today, Jesus Christ is still in the business of coming to those who are looking for Him. Jeremiah 29:13 says, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

In Acts 17, Paul encourages the Athenians to seek the Lord because He “is not far from every one of us.” On the first Easter Sunday, Mary Magdalene sought the Lord, and found that He indeed was not far from her.

Jesus Christ is not far from any one of you today, either. He is knocking at the door of your heart. He wants to be let in so that He can deliver you from sin just as He delivered Mary Magdalene. That is the reason why He came into the world — to save sinners.

CHAPTER NINE

Jesus Christ: The Ultimate Hero of Easter

John 20:19-23

19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Every now and then, we hear about someone being called a hero because of something great that they did. A firefighter who charges into a burning building to rescue a child, soldiers who risk their lives for their country in battle, a doctor who pulls off a risky medical procedure — all of these are hailed as heroes. But, there are many heroes who go unnoticed and who are not applauded by the world. These unsung heroes simply do what is in their power, and then fade into history.

We have been looking at the lives of the unsung heroes of Easter — those characters who are critical to the Easter story, but who are often overlooked. We have looked at Pilate’s wife, Simon of Cyrene, Mary the mother of Jesus, John the beloved disciple, the Roman Centurion, Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, and Mary Magdalene. Each of these unsung heroes played an important role in the Easter story, but each of them would tell you that the real hero of Easter is the one who rose from the dead on Easter Sunday — Jesus Christ, the ultimate hero.

The Scottish theologian Sinclair Ferguson said, “Imagine, for a moment, the reaction of Hell to the death of Christ. Jesus was bound with the bands of death. What celebration and joy! God was defeated! Vengeance was the Devil’s. But they reckoned without the wisdom of God. For Christ could not be held down by the bands of death. In fact, through death He was paralyzing the one who had the power of death, and He was setting His people free. What seemed to be defeat was actually victory. The Resurrection morning was Hell’s gloomiest day. Satan saw the wisdom of God and tasted defeat.”

The Bible tells us in Ephesians 4 that, when Jesus arose from the grave, he “ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” I want us to focus on those words, “gave gifts unto men.” What kind of gifts did Jesus Christ leave behind for us after His resurrection?

Jesus Christ gave us peace

The Bible tells us that on that first resurrection Sunday, two thousand years ago, the first words that Jesus Christ said to His disciples were, “Peace be unto you.” And then, as if he wanted to make sure that they understood, the Bible says that Jesus “shewed unto them his hands and his side... Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you...”

The disciples had just gone through the most harrowing four days of their lives. In just a matter of hours, their Lord, the one whom they had served with for three years, was taken from them, betrayed by one of His own disciples. Jesus had been falsely accused, harshly interrogated, severely beaten, rejected by the people He loved and cared for, and then sentenced to die. The turbulence and uncertainty surrounding these events drove the disciples to shut themselves in away from the outside world. They were afraid. They desperately needed peace.

When they saw that Jesus was alive, when they heard His voice, their hearts were set at ease. They knew that everything would be alright after all. However, Jesus Christ did not just bring them the peace of His resurrection. He gave them (and He gives us) peace in every area of our lives.

Most importantly, Jesus Christ gives us peace with God. That is why God sent Jesus in the first place: so that God’s justice and wrath could be satisfied without us having to be punished for eternity. We can be at peace with God because of the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. And, not only has Christ given us peace with God, but peace with others and peace with the world. We do not have to fear anything that happens to us simply because we have the great peace of knowing that if our Saviour met and conquered death, He can meet and conquer anything.

Jesus Christ gave us power

In John 20:22, the Bible reads: “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” Jesus Christ gives power to His disciples. Acts 1:8 specifically calls “the Holy Ghost” the “power” that these disciples received. The work of the Holy Spirit that Jesus gives is that He makes us able to do what we are simply not able to do on our own. He gives us power.

By breathing on His disciples, Jesus was encouraging them to realize that the Holy Spirit would be His breath, His life, and His word. In essence, everything that Jesus is, we have with us at all times through the Holy Spirit. The power of the Holy Spirit in our life is the only hope that we have for accomplishing the tasks that Jesus commissioned us to accomplish. We can only live righteous, pure, and Godly lives through the Holy Spirit’s power.

My favorite Bible verse is Zechariah 4:6, which reads, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” I have learned throughout my life that anything can be done if we rely on God’s power to do it. We can accomplish anything and everything that we need to accomplish through the power that Jesus gave us by His Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ gave us purpose

Finally, Jesus Christ tells His disciples, “...as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” In other words, Jesus says, just as Christ sent me into the world with the purpose of saving it, I am sending you into the world with the purpose of telling everyone about Me who has saved it. Jesus says that we are His representatives, His ambassadors, called to take His peace and power to those who are still oppressed by Satan.

Jesus gives us peace with God. Then he gives us power to do the kinds of things that we cannot do on our own — such things as giving us victory over our own sinful flesh, loving others like Christ loves us, and putting Jesus first in all that we do. And then, with such peace and power, Christ gives us our central purpose. Because of His life, death, and resurrection, our entire lives have changed as well. We have a higher calling, a greater purpose than we could ever imagine — to be in the service of God, telling people about what He has done for us.

Jesus’ resurrection changed everything for the world, for the disciples, and it changes everything for each of us today. William Lane Craig said, “Without the belief in the Resurrection, the Christian faith could not have come into being. The disciples would have remained crushed and defeated men. Even had they continued to remember Jesus as their beloved teacher, His crucifixion would have forever silenced any hopes of His being the Messiah. The cross would have remained the sad and shameful end of His career.” But the origin of Christianity hinges on the fact that God raised Jesus from the dead.

Someone else said, “Christianity begins where all the religions of the world end, at death, and it starts with resurrection.” Without the resurrection, we would have no peace, we would have no power, and we would have no purpose. Thank God, today, that Jesus’ body does not lie in a cold grave, but He is risen, and He sits in glory above all others. His resurrection brings peace, power, and purpose to a lost and dying world.

CHAPTER TEN

You, Me, and the Unsung Heroes

The wonderful thing about the unsung heroes of Easter is that these eight men and women were ordinary people like you and me. They had worries, concerns, joys, and idiosyncracies. Like us, they were trying to make the best of the life they had been given. Like us, they stumbled and fell along the way. Like us, they wondered whether what they were doing was the right thing to do. They had their doubts, and they often struggled to believe.

But, in the midst of their lives, they crossed paths with Jesus of Nazareth — Jesus, the Son of God, the promised Messiah. When their lives intersected with Jesus’ life they were transformed in ways they never could have imagined. And they became a part of the greatest story ever played out on the stage of eternity, fulfilling roles that could have only been directed by God Himself.

From Pilate’s wife, we learn the importance of being sensitive to the voice of God. At any point, God may use us to be a voice of warning to someone about to make a tragic and irreversible decision. Desperate souls are all around us in this world. We must be willing voices of faith and insight. Even though we may be spurned, we must be committed to faithfully delivering the message that is capable of saving any soul.

In Simon of Cyrene, we see a man suddenly thrust into a tumultuous situation. Yet, he quickly adapts and lends his strength to the service of the Lord. In life, especially as we follow Christ, God will often put us into situations that we don’t anticipate. He will place us in arenas and amidst people who are outside of our comfort zone. When we are in such a situation, instead of looking for the exit, we ought to look for ways to be useful to God’s plan. As Brandon Heath’s song says, we may have been placed in such a situation to be of service to a “Jesus in disguise.”

Mary’s life is marked by the two greatest events in history — the birth of Jesus Christ and the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Before, between, and after these events, Mary lived a pretty ordinary life. She was a daughter, a wife, and a mother. The Scriptures show her as a fiance, a wedding party attendee, and a grieving mother. Though she was in the midst of these events of enormous importance, she did not understand all that was going on. No one had become pregnant by the influence of the Holy Spirit ever before. Mary, however, did not let her lack of understanding to get in the way of her obedience and submission to God’s will. At times, God will place us in situations that we do not fully understand. We must accept that we are not called to understand everything that God is doing, but we are required to be obedient.

If nothing else, two things we glean from the life of the Apostle John are the importance of love and truth. These two principles John learned from Jesus, embedded in his writings, and exemplified in his life. From John, we learn that God showed His love by sending Jesus Christ to Earth, and that Jesus Christ showed His love by laying down His life for us. Each of us ought to strive to love God, to love our brothers and sisters in Christ, to show Christ’s love to sinners, and to live our lives according to the truth revealed in Jesus Christ and in the Bible.

The experience of the Roman Centurion provides us with a reflection of many people in our society. Many are skeptical about who God is and who Jesus Christ is. Just as the Centurion went along with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, people today often shape their idea of who Jesus is based on what the crowd thinks. They are not willing to step out in faith to examine Jesus Christ for themselves. The Centurion had nothing to gain in this world by admitting the deity of Jesus Christ. But, when we find him alone at the cross, he declares, "Surely, this man was the Son of God." Our prayer ought to be for many people in this day and time — be they atheists, agnostics, New Agers, or just “spiritual” — to come to the same realization.

Joseph of Arimathea shows us that any person at any time can overcome doubt and step out in faith to be used in God’s kingdom. We don’t know if Joseph believed that Jesus Christ would rise from the dead. It is likely that when he went to request Jesus’ body from Pilate, he was only thinking of giving it a proper and decent burial. But, Joseph made his resources (and his good name) of use for the purpose of God. By doing so, he helped to fulfill the prophecy that Jesus would be “three days in the heart of the earth” — unlike the other crucified criminals whose bodies were normally left to rot and be eaten by scavenger birds on the cross. Like Joseph, we ought to use whatever influence, wealth, and material possessions we have to aid Christ’s work in the Earth.

Nicodemus strikes us as an intellectual person. He is a scholar, a “doctor of the law,” and he shows us that it is alright to ask questions before committing to following Christ. Many people think that Jesus asks for blind faith. He does not. Rather, He asks us to “count the cost” before we choose to follow Him. Nicodemus did this, and he made the right decision in the end. The record of Nicodemus’ midnight conversation with Jesus Christ provides us with what is perhaps the most memorized verse in all the Bible — John 3:16 — which was uttered specifically by our Lord Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Finally, we come to Mary Magdalene. Her testimony is an encouragement to us because it lets us know that no matter how far we have slipped into the muck and mire of sin — no matter how depraved our hearts have become — Jesus is ready to save if we are willing to place our trust in Him. Because of her sinful past, Mary Magdalene faced ridicule and rejection from every corner of society. But, when Jesus came on the scene, He brought her into the fold, He bought her from the clutches of sin with His own blood, and she became one of His most faithful disciples. Probably more than anyone else, Mary Magdalene knows the truth of the song, “Love Lifted Me”:

I was sinking deep in sin,

Far from the peaceful shore,

Very deeply stained within,

Sinking to rise no more;

But the Master of the sea

Heard my despairing cry,

From the waters lifted me,

Now safe am I.

Love lifted me!

Love lifted me!

When nothing else could help,

Love lifted me.

How You Can Know Jesus Christ as Your Saviour

Jesus’ resurrection changes everything for those who have yet to believe in Him. If you are not saved, you can gain Jesus’ peace, power, and purpose by trusting Him for your salvation today. Jesus’ death and resurrection made salvation a simple process.

If you wish to choose Christ, allow me to share with you from God’s Word how you can do that right now.

John 3:16 reads, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

“For God so loved the world” means that if you are in the world, God loves you. No matter who you are, where you are, or what you have done, God loves you.

God loves you more than you love yourself. He loves you so much “that He gave His only begotten Son.” His only begotten son is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins and for mine, He was buried, and on the third day, He rose from the dead.

“That whosoever believeth in Him” — whosoever means anybody of any race, any color, or any socio-economic status can believe in Jesus Christ.

“Should not perish, but have everlasting life.” If you believe on Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you will not perish in Hell, instead you will have everlasting life in heaven with God.

The Bible also says in Romans 10:9 and 13: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.... For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Dear friend, if you are willing to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, please pray with me this simple prayer:

Heavenly Father, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. For Jesus Christ’s sake, please forgive me of my sins. I now believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose from the dead. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.

If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, I declare to you that based upon the Word of God, you are now saved from Hell and you are on your way to Heaven. Welcome to the family of God and congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.

For more information to help you grow in your new found faith in Christ, go to www.GospelLightSociety.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door.” Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

Other Books by Daniel Whyte III

Daniel Whyte III has written over 35 books. Here are just a few books that are related to this one that you might find interesting and that will strengthen and encourage you in your Christian faith.

The Most Exciting and Eventful Week in History

Just Jesus (Volume 1): The Greatest Things Ever Said About the Greatest Man Who Ever Lived

Just Jesus (Volume 2): The Greatest Things Ever Said About the Greatest Man Who Ever Lived

The Prayer Motivator

A Praying Time

10 Things God Wants You to Do in the Last Days

The Praying Through the Bible Series

Table of Contents

Introduction

Pilate’s Wife and the Nightmare from Heaven

Simon of Cyrene: An Encounter with God on the Road to Golgotha

Mary: Peace in the Midst of the Storm

John: The Disciple Who Loved Jesus to the Very End

The Roman Centurion: A Change of Heart

Joseph of Arimathea: A 'Secret Believer' Who Sacrificed for Jesus

Nicodemus: Another Secret Saint Who Came Through for Jesus in the End

Mary Magdalene: The First Person to See the Risen Christ

Jesus Christ: The Ultimate Hero of Easter

You, Me, and the Unsung Heroes