Bible Study: Gospel Characters

A study on the resurrection of the Lord in relation to people brought me new lights. God sovereignly used all kinds of people to accomplish His purpose. People who seemed insignificant when the Lord was on the earth became very significant after His death. 

Joseph of Arimathea: He was a hidden disciple of the Lord and provided the tomb for the Lord's dead body to rest. This has become the fundamental asset to prove to the unbelieving world that Jesus Christ died and resurrected. Oftentimes, people who not outrightly follow the Lord are also being used by the Lord; they have their function too.

John 19:38 And after these things Joseph from Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a hidden one for fear of the Jews, requested of Pilate that he might take the body of Jesus away; and Pilate allowed it. He came therefore and took His body away.

Nicodemus: When he met the Lord in John 4 he did not seem so significant or positive towards the Lord. Yet, since then he must have been a secret disciple of the Lord. With his societal standing and stature among the religious Jews and the Pharisees, he was quite a man to steadfastly follow the Lord up to His death. Though he did not openly follow the Lord Jesus as the twelve disciples did, he anointed the Lord's dead body. What the twelve disciples ran away from, he came and did his best to anoint the Lord's dead body which became very significant in spiritual truth.

John 19:39 And Nicodemus, he who had come to Him the first time by night, came also, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes of about a hundred pounds.

The duo, Joseph and Nicodemus, provided the linen cloths that became irrefutable physical proof of the Lord's resurrection.

John 19:40 Therefore they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the custom of the Jews for burying.

20:5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there; however, he did not enter.

20:6 Then Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered into the tomb; and he beheld the linen cloths lying there

20:7 And the handkerchief which had been over His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded up in one place apart.

Mary:  The Magdalene who loved the Lord was the first person to witness the resurrection of the Lord. She was a living testimony that whosoever loved the Lord dearly would also meet the Lord as well. The secret to meeting the lord is loving Him dearly.

John 20:1 Now on the first day of the week, Mary the Magdalene came early to the tomb while it was yet dark and saw the stone taken away from the tomb.

20:11 But Mary stood outside at the tomb weeping. Then as she wept, she stooped to look into the tomb

20:12, 14, 18 And beheld two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. When she said these things, she turned backward and beheld Jesus standing there, yet she did not know that it was Jesus. Mary the Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, I have seen the Lord, and that He had said these things to her. 

Thomas: The doubter finally believed with evidence. But blessed are those who still believe even without any physical evidence, that's faith.

John 20:27  Then He said to Thomas, Bring your finger here and see My hands, and bring your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.

20:28  Thomas answered and said to Him, My Lord and my God!

20:29  Jesus said to him, Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.

These four persons are quite encouraging to me. Some of the people I am shepherding fall into either one of these characters. A brother that I am praying with regularly is like Joseph of Arimathea. He is a strong believer and yet wants to remain in a hidden way owing to his family and peer pressure. I did not force him to do anything either but simply allow the Lord to work in him. Perhaps, one day he will be very useful to bear the Lord's testimony.

With these lights, no one who follows the Lord in some way or the other is useless. They have their worth and it will be manifested in time. Therefore, I should not give up on shepherding, no matter what their conditions maybe today. One day, the Lord will manifest their functions; they all will be useful to the Lord.