Holy Saturday

WesleyMen Lenten & Easter Devotionals 2025

Gospel Lectionary

John 19:38-42 New International Version

38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. 40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Reflection

Today’s passage shows us examples of two persons with good intention, but unfortunately, were in fear. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were secret followers of Jesus for their fear of getting into troubles. This is the reason why they secretly took the body of Jesus for giving a proper burial. And for the same reason also Nicodemus visited Jesus secretly at night. They followed Jesus but they were afraid of people to know.

Fear can become one of the obstacles to obedience. Fear causes people to be discouraged to openly follow Jesus. People hide their faith for various fears. Some are in fear of losing family or friendships, and in the country where Christianity is a minority, there is the fear of getting into troubles with the authorities, fear of losing job, or getting into troubles, etc.

Because of fear, many people refuse to speak the truth and prefer to keep quiet, to hide, or even lie. Fear often causes believers to avoid public confession of their faith. Instead, hiding it within themselves, often with the excuse faith is something personal, something only between God and themselves. Indeed, faith is a personal matter, but it is also something that we must not be ashamed of or hidden in secret.
Matthew 10:32-33 says it clearly, “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”

Fear has paralyzed many Christians. It takes away the courage to share the Gospel with the people around. And by not preaching the Gospel, they cause others to miss out, and what could be the only opportunity to receive salvation from God. The fear to share our faith blocks people from experiencing the power of Jesus’ resurrection. What do you think God’s opinion is on the matter? Will God justify something like that? I don’t think so. Look at Matthew 10:27-28: “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

This Holy Saturday, may we be reminded of the advice Apostle Paul gives to Timothy regarding fear, and of what Timothy should worry about more, what he should be doing, and the example that Paul himself demonstrates to him, as it is written in 2 Timothy 1:3-12: “3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.”

I do believe that each of us possesses some measure of fear; but some more than others. Yet, we need to remember that we are to conquer our fears, for our own good and for the good of others. We need to be bold in proclaiming God’s love and salvation to the world around us.

Today, let us start our day with a prayer. Ask God to grant us the boldness to proclaim His greatness and power, to share with others about the salvation in Jesus Christ! Choose one or two names that you know not yet believers, pray for God to soften their hearts and make them to become fertile soils for the seed of faith to grow. Go and reach out to them! Share about the love of God in Jesus to them, about the wonderful works of Jesus on the cross, that they, too, will come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. When we do this, we are giving the highest honour and appreciation to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our redemption. May the Lord bless us all!

Prayer

Dear God our Almighty Father, grant us the courage to stand firm in our faith, unshaken by the storms of doubt and fear. Grant us the strength to boldly proclaim Your truth and love, and to share the message of Your salvation to those who are still not believing.
Help us to trust in Your promises and assure us that with You, we can face any challenge. May our faith inspire others to seek You, that they, too, may experience the power of Your resurrection and be saved. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

Rev. Denny Nainggolan, WesleyMen Regional Leader Asia