02/03/2026
Can you stand for a dead man?
Joseph of Arimathea did not consent to what was done to Jesus Christ.
What’s striking is that he didn’t just disagree privately. He didn’t merely say, “I don’t support this.”
He turned his disapproval into action.
Joseph gave a voice to what he did not consent to.
It takes courage to take something that has been destroyed and still insist on dignity.
It takes bravery to claim responsibility for what looks finished.
How many of us are willing to take the death of others personally?
We never see Joseph while Jesus is healing the sick, raising the dead, or delivering the bound.
We see him when the story seems over.
We see him when Jesus is silent.
We see him when the body is lifeless.
Joseph stood with a dead man.
He invested in a dead man.
He covered a dead man.
He honored a dead man.
He didn’t say, “I’ll do this in case He becomes famous.”
He didn’t act because of future reward.
To Joseph, the movement was finished.
The miracle worker was gone.
The dream was buried.
And still! he stood by Him.
That is real loyalty.
That is true conviction.
That is faith without applause.
Because anyone can stand with the living.
But it takes a different kind of courage to stand with the dead.
