Genesis: Abraham, Covenant, and Promise

Overcoming The Fear Of The Jews

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Old Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2018-10-01

Synopsis: Pastor John Weaver continues his two-part message on the fear of the Jews, focusing on how Joseph of Arimathea and the apostles overcame that fear through holy boldness. He reviews the identity of 'the Jews' as the ruling elite (Sadducees and Pharisees) who held religious and civil power, and explains that Joseph, a secret disciple and member of the Sanhedrin, boldly requested Jesus' body after the crucifixion. The sermon emphasizes that the fear of God overcomes the fear of man, and that believers today need to ask God for holy boldness to stand for truth in the face of tyranny and wickedness.

[John Weaver] To the book of Mark, Mark chapter 15, Mark 15, and we're going to be reading verses 42 and 43. Now this is going to be the second part of the message that I began last week. I will take time to review. especially for Francis and Van who are not here. And I trust that you'll be able to follow very easily today. Look in Mark chapter 15 and notice if you would please verses 42 and 43.

[John Weaver] The scripture says, and now when the evening was come because it was the preparation that is the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, an honorable counselor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came and went boldly under Pilate and craved the body of Jesus. Last week, I preached a message which I entitled, For Fear of the Jews. And I'm going to take a few moments and review that momentarily. Today, the message is entitled, Overcoming the Fear of the Jews. So last week, as I pointed out the fact In the scripture over and over, the Bible talks about for fear of the Jews.

[John Weaver] This phrase has many implications. I also reminded you that years ago I preached a six part series on who is Israel and then later on another five part series on Jews, Judaism and Christianity. And I encourage each one of you, if you've heard those messages, wonderful, but listen to them. If you haven't heard them, please do so. going to give a quote or two just from those messages in order to try to catch us up. But may I point out that the very first time the word Jews occurs in our King James Bible you will find it in 2 Kings chapter 16 and verse 6. There the Bible says, at that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Eloth to Syria and drove the Jews from Eloth and the Syrians came to Eloth and dwelt there unto this day. Now, when it says he drove the Jews from Eloth, that is, he drove away the Judeans. The Judeans were from the southern kingdom. And here it is called the Jews. So you have to remember, in Israel, there were two kingdoms.

[John Weaver] There was the northern kingdom. There was a southern kingdom. And the southern kingdom, of course, contained the tribe of Judah, particularly. Also, it contained the tribes of Benjamin and Simeon as well. But the word Jews is used both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament in different ways. For instance in the Old Testament the Hebrew word is Yehudi and it literally refers to someone who is a Judahite or a descendant of Judah. It is also used in the Bible six ways. Number one, to describe a person or persons from the tribe of Judah. Number two, it describes the kingdom of Judah. Number three, the land of Judah or Judea. Number four, the nation of Judah. Number five, the house of Judah, which would refer to anyone belonging to the kingdom, the house, the tribe, the nation of Judah. And then lastly, it refers to the religion of the Jews in the New Testament.

[John Weaver] The Greek word is Udais, and it just simply means a Judean. So when you when you see the word in the New Testament or in the Old Testament, particularly, it refers to someone who is associated with a connected with the land of Judea or the nation of Judah or from the tribe of Judah. When you get to the New Testament, refers more to the religion. That's why the Apostle Paul said that he prospered in the Jews religion above many of his equals. And then of course in Galatians chapter 1 he talks about the religion of the Jews twice. And I ask this question, have you ever noticed that today when someone says anything about the Jews it's deserving or not is immaterial, you're very quickly labeled as anti-Semitic. Most people have never understood what that term actually means.

[John Weaver] I want to give you a definition from the Oxford Dictionary, the Oxford English Dictionary, and I want you to listen to what it says. Here it defines Semite, a member of any people's who speak or spoke a Semitic language, including in particular Jews and Arabs, the Arabian people or Semitic people as well. Then it goes on to say this. word derives from the modern Latin scimitar through the late Latin from Greek sim or shim, the son of Noah in the Bible from whom these peoples were traditionally supposed to be descended. So when you get to Genesis chapter 11 you see there the genealogy relating to shim. And you read right on down and you find that Abraham is in the descendants of shim. Noah had three sons, Shim, Ham, and Japheth.

[John Weaver] And everything comes through Shem as far as the line of the Messiah is concerned. And interestingly enough, when you talk about Semites or Shemites, you have to remember that Abraham not only had Isaac with Sarah, he also had Ishmael with Hagar. Hence the Arabians. And if you look very quickly in your Bibles to the book of Genesis chapter 25, you will find that Abraham produced an awful lot of seed. Because after Sarah died, he took another wife. Her name was Keturah. And if you'll note what the Bible says, beginning with verse 1 of Genesis 25, then again Abraham took a wife and her name was Keturah. And she bare him Zimram, and Jocchan, and Midan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shua, and then you read verses 3 and 4 and 5, and then you find some of the grandchildren of some of these children. So, obviously now you're going to have more Semites because they are through the loins of Abraham.

[John Weaver] Now, I pointed out that usually you have to understand that when you hear the term Jews, especially in the Old Testament, it referred to those who were in the Southern Kingdom. Let me say this again. I've already said it in the southern kingdom. You had the tribe of Judah You also had the tribe of Benjamin. You also had the tribe of Simeon and although Benjamin and Simeon had their inheritance in Judea they maintained their tribal Identity I want you to turn to the book of Romans chapter 11 and let me show you something. I you turn there I'm going to try to explain what I just said after I read this passage if you look in Romans chapter 11 and verse 1 the Apostle Paul in referring to himself After he asked this question He says I say then hath God cast away his people then he says God forbid and watch this explanation he said for I am also an Israelite and the seed of Abraham of the tribe of Benjamin so Paul now is claiming to be an Israelite of the seed of Abraham of the tribe of Benjamin well I suppose he could have also said that he was a

[John Weaver] Judean because you remember that Benjamin had his inheritance in the land of Judea okay But he says, here I am, I'm a Benjamite. Now, the point I'm trying to make right here is very simple. I could say that we are all Southerners, well except for one of us here. I could say that we're all Southerners. When I talk about Southerners, we could talk about Georgia, we talk about North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, we can talk about all of it, Missouri, And I could say, well all of these people are Southerners, but although we are all Southerners we would be Georgians or Floridians. You understand what I'm saying?

[John Weaver] So this is the way it was in those days. They may have been Judeans in the sense that they had their inheritance there, but they were Benjamites. They were Semitites. They just happened to live in that land. They kept their tribal identity per se. Now, The point that I made last week When you see the word or the term or the phrase the Jews, which I'm going to show you many times in the New Testament, it does not even refer to all the Judeans. It does not refer to all of those who lived in the southern kingdom. It does not refer to all of those who are the tribe of Judah. It refers mainly to what you and I would call the ruling elite in those days. And you remember the ruling elite had to be and was the Sadducees and the Pharisees.

[John Weaver] I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of John. Let me just give you a quick review. Look in the book of John, chapter 9, if you would. This is where Jesus Christ had healed the man that had been born blind. Of course I went over this last week. I'm not going to read the entire passage But if you look in John 9 in verse 22, here is what the parents said to the Jews watch carefully These words fake his parents because they feared the Jews Whoa, wait a minute. They were Judeans themselves Now it says they feared the Jews for the Jews are had agreed already that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents he's of age ask him so what Jews had agreed already those who were in control Those who had the power and authority to ostracize and excommunicate and kick someone out of the synagogue If you look in the book of John chapter 20 and we're coming back to John 12

[John Weaver] but look in John 20 and verse 19 and I'll explain this verse momentarily and light of some other verses. So look in John 20 and verse 19, Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut, where the disciples were assembled, watch, for fear of the Jews came Jesus, and stood in the midst, and said unto them, Peace be unto you. So the disciples were meeting behind closed doors, probably locked doors. Why? The Bible says for fear of the Jews.

[John Weaver] Well, they were not afraid of every Judean. They were afraid of the ruling elite because of their power and their authority. So, if you look back in your Bibles now to the book of John chapter 12, John chapter 12, and notice if you would please verse 42. We'll come back to this verse a little bit later anyhow. John 12 verse 42, nevertheless among the chief rulers, also many believed on him, But because of the Pharisees they did not confess him lest they should be put out of the synagogue Wow So even some of the chief rulers Who were part and parcel of the Pharisees would not? confess Christ lest they be kicked out by the others and Now you have to remember that the Pharisees had control of the people, the general populace, the synagogues. The Sadducees had control of the temple. Now interestingly enough the Sadducees and the Pharisees not only had some religious authority and religious power, they also had some civil power and Criminal power that is to arrest criminals if you would look in your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 5 and Let's begin there with verse 18.

[John Weaver] In fact, let's read verse 17 just so you can see the context Acts chapter 5 verse 17 The Bible says in the high priest rose up and all they that were with him Which is the sect of the Sadducees and were filled with indignation so what did they do they were filled with indignation against the Apostles and laid their hands on the Apostles and put them in the common prison and So evidently they either had power to incarcerate an authority to incarcerate or they were very closely connected to someone who did if you would look in the book of Acts chapter 8 You remember Saul of Tarsus before he was saved and became the mighty Apostle Paul. The Bible says this, and as for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house and hailing men and women, committed them to prison. You remember Paul was a Pharisee. In fact, he identified himself as a Pharisee of the Pharisees. So here is a Pharisee Hauling men and women off to prison then if you look in Acts chapter 26 at the testimony that the Apostle Paul gave Notice what he said in Acts chapter 26 and verse 10 Acts 26 and verse 10.

[John Weaver] He's giving his testimony before King Agrippa and he says this I Which things also did in Jerusalem and many of the Saints did I show up in prison? Having received authority from the chief priests that is the Sadducees and when they were put to death I gave my voice against them and And I punished them often in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme. And being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even in strange cities."

[John Weaver] Now I want you to notice verse 10 if you would. Here the Apostle Paul says, before his conversion, he shut up many of the saints in prison. Then he says this, having received authority from the chief priests. In other words, they're the one that sanctioned it. And when they, that is plural, when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. It was not just that he was consenting to the death of Stephen, he did so in Acts chapter 6, but evidently there were many more as well.

[John Weaver] So here you find the power of this ruling elite the power of the Jews now you have to remember again Let me repeat it that the Pharisees had control of the populace because of the synagogue and But the Sadducees had control over the Temple because it was from the Sadducees that you had the priestly order. It was both the Pharisees and the Sadducees that made up the Sanhedrin which was the ruling court. Now during the time of the Romans, and especially the Roman governors like Pontius Pilate, the Sanhedrin only had jurisdiction in the province of Judea. The Sanhedrin had its own police force.

[John Weaver] It had civil authority and criminal authority as well. However, in the New Testament, under the Romans, although they could arrest and although they could condemn, they could not execute. It was the Sanhedrin that condemned Jesus Christ. The Romans reserved to themselves the right to execute. Hence Jesus Christ was crucified, which is a Roman death, and not stoned to death, which was an Israelite or a Mosaic death. Because at that particular time although they could condemn They certainly did not have the power to execute the Romans had taken that away from them now if you go back to John chapter 18 and by the way, you remember when when Jesus Christ was standing before Pilate and Pilate asked whom shall I Jesus of Barabbas, and of course they all hollered for Barabbas. And why?

[John Weaver] What evil hath he done? What did they say? They said, we have a law, and by our law he ought to die. But they did not have the power to execute him. So if you look in John chapter 18, look there if you would beginning in verse 12. Just to show you that they had the power to arrest. Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews, not all the Judeans of the ruling elite, took Jesus and bound him and led him away to Annas first, for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, which was a high priest that same year. Note, if you would, then the band, that is the men that was with them and the captain and the officers of the Jews took Jesus.

[John Weaver] So the Sanhedrin, And the Sadducees and the Pharisees were notoriously corrupt. They were not only corrupt, they were tyrannical. They were despotic. You either agreed with them or submitted to them or else you were ostracized, excommunicated, imprisoned or executed. They consider themselves above the law. Much like our government and like our politicians today. could do whatever they thought they wanted to do. To show you how corrupt they were, you must remember when these individuals came to John's baptism in Matthew 3 and verse 7, He said to them, O generation of vipers, has warned you to flee from the wrath to come." So He called them a bunch of vipers. And then when you get to Matthew chapter 23 and verse 33, Jesus Christ said to them, you serpents, you generation of vipers, how can you escape the damnation of hell? So our Lord said there were not only serpents and vipers but that they were doomed and damned and they could not escape the damnation of hell. because they were so exceedingly corrupt.

[John Weaver] Now, therefore, because of their corruption, there were a lot of people that feared their authority and their power. It was usurped authority most of the time, and it was corrupt power most of the time. because these people basically did as they pleased. So if you'll go back to John chapter 12 very quickly and look at this in light of what I just shared with you. John chapter 12 beginning there with verse 42. John 12 verse 42.

[John Weaver] Now you're going to see what I'm talking about. John 12 verse 42. Nevertheless, among the chief rulers So here was some in that Sanhedrin here was some in that Among the Pharisees or the Sadducees that believed on him nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him but because of the Pharisees They did not confess him lest they should be put out of the synagogue for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God So here you had all of these corrupt individuals and However, there were exceptions. One of the exceptions happened to be a man by the name of Joseph of Arimathea. The Bible tells us he was a rich man. He was an honorable man. He was a counselor.

[John Weaver] He was a secret disciple. The Bible tells us that he waited for the kingdom of God. But you're going to ask this question. Why was Joseph of Arimathea a secret disciple? And here's the answer. For fear of the Jews. I want to show you something that may astound you. It may amaze you. I want you to turn in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 27. I want to show you four passages concerning Joseph of Arimathea. And as you understand who this man was, you're going to understand the power and the influence that the Jews had. Notice, if you would please, in Matthew chapter 27, beginning there with verse 57. The Bible says, when the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathea named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple. And he went to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth.

[John Weaver] Now, verse 6 he said, and he laid it in his own new tomb, which he inhewn out of the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher and departed. Note if you would, first of all we are told that Joseph was a rich man of Arimathea. We're also told that he was Jesus's disciple We're also told that he went in and begged the body of Jesus Christ Now look if you would please in the book of Mark chapter 15 and notice if you would verses 42 and 43 This was our text, but I want to point some things out as we read about Joseph Mark chapter 15 verse 42 now when the even was come because it was the preparation that is the day before the Sabbath Joseph of Arimathea an honorable counselor Which also waited for the kingdom of God came and went into boldly unto Pilate and craved the body of Jesus Now we're told that Joseph was an honorable counselor. I We're told that he waited for the kingdom of God We're also told that he went in boldly under Pilate and craved the body of Jesus.

[John Weaver] The interesting thing is this When the Bible says in verse 43 that he was an honorable counselor the word counselor refers to a senator in other words Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin and Let me show you look in your Bibles to Luke chapter 23 Luke chapter 23 beginning there with verse 50 Luke 23 verse 50 read what is said about Joseph and Behold there was a man named Joseph a counselor a senator a And he was a good man and just. Are you ready?

[John Weaver] The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them. That is the rest of the Sanhedrin. He was of Arimathea, city of the Jews, who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. This man went under Pilate and begged the body of Jesus. So here is Joseph of Arimathea, who is in the Sanhedrin himself, who is a secret disciple. And the reason he is not made known his faith is for fear of these Jews who had control.

[John Weaver] Of the temple and the synagogue and the people. Now, if you would turn right over to the book of John, chapter 19, and look in verse 38, John 19, verse 38. Here it is spelled out in black and white for you And after this joseph of arimathea 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 So

[John Weaver] here was a man Who was rich? Who was honorable? who was a secret disciple of Jesus Christ who waited for the kingdom of God who had power and authority himself and was a member of the Sanhedrin and yet he still feared the Jews that is the rest of those who were in the Sanhedrin and when Jesus Christ was tried and condemned he did not consent with their verdict and he did not consent with their deed.

[John Weaver] Now I want you to note something. The Bible tells us it was this man that went in and boldly asked for the body of the Lord Jesus Christ. So let me ask you a question. Where were the 12 disciples? Where were the 12 apostles? Judas had hanged himself. And the Bible also tells us in Mark 14 in verse 50 that when they took Jesus the rest of the disciples forsook Him and fled.

[John Weaver] As far as I can tell there was only one of the original 12 at the crucifixion and that was John. If you look back in your Bibles to the book of John chapter 19 beginning there with verse 25 John 19 verse 25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother and his mother's sister Mary the wife of Cleophas and Mary Magdalene When Jesus therefore saw his mother and the disciples standing by whom he loved that's John He said into his mother woman behold thy son Then said he into the disciple behold thy mother and from that hour that disciple took her into his own home So here is John Standing there and our Lord commits his mother into the hands of the Apostle John There was one other That may or may not have been there.

[John Weaver] I would probably say not But it would be a matter of interpretation when you get to first Peter chapter 5 in verse 2 and Peter also says there that he was an eyewitness to his sufferings Well, you can be an eyewitness to the sufferings without being an eyewitness to all of the sufferings certainly Peter was in the garden when he prayed and sweat great drops of sweat as blood and Peter was with him when they came to arrest him for it was Peter who cut off Malchus's ear with a sword and Certainly Peter was there at the Hall of Judgment because it was there that he denied the Lord three times So just how far you can interpret what he said about being an eyewitness to the sufferings of Christ He may have been hiding somewhere Beholding afar off. I don't know but the Bible just simply says that he was there now when all the disciples did get back together after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ If you'll go back to verse 19 of John chapter 20, and I've already read it, but let me point it out again this is after the

[John Weaver] death of Jesus Christ then the same day and even being the first day of the week is When the doors were shut, where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst and said to them, peace be unto you. Now, I want to just try to emphasize something for you. I want to emphasize for you the great bravery and courage that was exhibited by Joseph of Arimathea. We may not think too much of it today, it took a great deal of courage.

[John Weaver] I want to give you three quotes, one is going to be from John Chrysostom who was an early Church father, then from Albert Barnes, and then from Adam Clark. Chrysostom says this, the courage of Joseph is greatly to be admired in that for the love of Christ he exposed himself to the danger of death. Now, how in the world could Joseph then be exposing himself to the danger of death? Well, listen to what Albert Barnes writes. He says, God had raised up this distinguished counselor and secret disciple for a special and most important vocation.

[John Weaver] The disciples of Jesus had fled, and if they had not, they had no influence with Pilate. Unless there had been a special application to Pilate in behalf of Jesus, his body would have been buried that night in the common grave with the malefactors. For it was the law of the Jews that the body of an executed man could not remain on the cross on the Sabbath. At this critical juncture, God called forward this secret disciple, this friend of Jesus, though unknown as such to the world, and gave him confidence He dared to express sympathy for the Savior. He went in boldly and begged the body of Jesus.

[John Weaver] It needed no small measure of courage to do this. Jesus had just been condemned, mocked, spit upon, crucified, the death of a slave and of the most guilty wretch. To avow attachment for Him now was proof of sincere affection. And the Holy Spirit has sought this worthy of special notice and has set down this bold attachment of a senator for Jesus for our imitation. So stop and think about this. It's going to get a little better just for a moment, but stop and think about it Jesus Christ had already been condemned. He'd been mocked. He'd been spit upon he'd been crucified and now Joseph Goes in and says I want his body And he doesn't go into a funeral home. He goes to pilot the man who had him sentenced to death Adam Clark says it like this now put two and two together when you hear this.

[John Weaver] I He who was a coward before now acts a more open, fearless part than any of the disciples of our Lord. This the Holy Spirit is thought worthy of a special notice. It needed no small measure of courage to declare now for Jesus, who had been a few hours ago condemned as a blasphemer by the Jews and as a seditious person by the Romans. And this was the more remarkable in Joseph because hitherto for fear of the Jews He'd been only a secret disciple of our Lord. Now listen He was a coward before now acts more open a fearless part than any of the disciples of our Lord the providence of God has a way of bringing his followers to light even in the face of death and condemnation So here's Joseph Jesus Christ has just been crucified as a blasphemer by the Jews and a seditious person by the Romans And now he goes in and says I want the body of Jesus Christ He's identifying himself as a follower of Jesus Christ, by the way Here's a good question Do you know Who provided all the spices for the burial of Jesus Christ?

[John Weaver] Nicodemus, another secret disciple. Look in John 19 verse 39. Here it is, John 19 verse 39. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pound weight. Wow. So here we have two secret disciples that are now boldly coming out Confessing and acknowledging Jesus Christ Now I want you to go back to Mark chapter 15. I want to show you something Here's a word that's very interesting John 15 if you will notice verse 43 The Bible says, Joseph of Arimathea, an honorable counselor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus. The word boldly there is the Greek word tolmao, and it means extreme conduct.

[John Weaver] I don't know how I can put this in words. It means that Joseph was courageous. He was bold. He was daring. He was brazen. Yeah, he may have been asking, but it was almost more like demanding. I want the body of Jesus Christ. And when Pilate had inquired and found out he was already dead. He allowed him to have the body. So I have a question for you.

[John Weaver] What do you think made the difference? Now, since Joseph of Arimathea is willingly, openly, boldly and defiantly identifying himself as a follower of Jesus Christ, when before he kept silence for fear of the Jews. What do you think made the difference in Joseph's life? Well, you have to remember that as a member of the Sanhedrin he undoubtedly was an eyewitness to the trial of Jesus Christ. So he had first hand information.

[John Weaver] He knew exactly what had happened. He was a witness to the proceedings. We are told in Luke chapter 23 that he had not consented to the counsel and deed of them. In other words, He was not willing to condemn Jesus Christ because he was a secret believer But now Jesus Christ has been condemned Now Jesus Christ has been sentenced to death Now Jesus Christ has been crucified and so there came a time for Joseph when he understood it is now or never and I will acknowledge him. I will confess him. Now is the time. And I will tell you what I honestly believe brought Joseph to this point. I believe he understood the sacrificial and substitutionary death of Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] Because you remember he was an honorable counselor. He waited for the Kingdom of God. That is he had to have known the Old Testament Scriptures and he understood that all of those lambs that were sacrificed in the Old Testament could never take away sin. They could never cover sin. They were just a picture. They were a type, an emblem of the one who could take away sin. And you remember that John the Baptist had already identified Jesus Christ as, behold, the Lamb of God. Who take it away the sin of the world? And so I believe that Joseph probably at this moment grasped and understood The substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ. So for Joseph then it was not the end It could not be the end because he believed that Jesus Christ was not only the king of Israel and the King of the Jews, quote unquote. He believed that Jesus Christ was King of Kings and Lord of Lords and God of Gods. And it did not matter if he had been crucified and it did not matter if it appeared as if his kingdom had been crushed and everything was gone and done away with.

[John Weaver] No, no, no. He's still now going to admit and confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord. You remember that passage in Mark 18, verse 38? where our Lord said, Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed when he cometh in the glory of his Father with his holy angels." So Joseph got to the point that he said, I'm not going to be ashamed of him. Now this act of Joseph going into Pilate undoubtedly is going to identify him Completely as a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ While he was alive He may have admired him and followed him secretly from a distance He may have refused to condemn him But now he's not only refusing to condemn him. He's now espousing his cause at what you and I would call the worst most possible time because Jesus Christ had not yet been resurrected.

[John Weaver] And you would think that it's all over. So we can see then what gave Joseph a little courage and boldness. And undoubtedly God had a special calling upon him for this. But here's my other question. There was a transformation in the lives of the other apostles. What made the difference in their lives? Remember, when Jesus Christ was arrested, they all forsook him and fled. When they got back together after his crucifixion, they were behind closed doors for fear of the Jews.

[John Weaver] They were afraid of the ruling elite. They were afraid of the power and the authority of the Jews So what made the difference? Well, let me show you let's look at our Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 4 Acts chapter 4 Acts chapter 4 and let's begin reading there with verse 5 acts 4 and verse 5 and We'll certainly go down and read through verse 13 this is where The disciples had healed a lame man and watch what happens Acts 4 verse 5 And it came to pass on the morrow that their rulers and their elders and scribes now, I hope you're beginning to see the Jews the ruling elite and Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander and as many as were the kindred

[John Weaver] of high priests were gathered together Jerusalem it was a click It was a corrupt cabal. Here were the rulers, here were the Jews. Watch verse 7, and when they had sent them, that is the apostles, in the midst they asked, by what power or by what name have you done this? How did you heal this man? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, you rulers of the people and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole? Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you all.

[John Weaver] This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which has become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in the other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.

[John Weaver] Now, when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled and they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus. Now, let me just stop. You remember in Acts chapter one, our Lord told his disciples, but tarry you in Jerusalem until you be in power from on high. In Acts chapter two, the Holy Ghost came upon them and they began to witness and they began to preach and teach.

[John Weaver] And now they've been arrested. They've been called to account for healing this man. And what does Peter say? You rulers, you wicked men, you have taken the Lord Jesus Christ and crucified him. This was your responsibility you killed him, but God raised him from the dead And it's through this man and through his power that this impotent man is now made whole Be it known unto you you listen to us And notice if you would the last verse that I read and they took knowledge of them But they had been with Jesus What was it that gave these disciples a holy boldness? It was not just the Holy Spirit Certainly it was him But they were with the Lord Jesus Christ Let me tell you something.

[John Weaver] There's a passage in Mark chapter 3 verses 13 and 14 Where Jesus calls his disciples And in that passage the Bible says this he goeth up into a mountain and calleth unto himself whom he would So he sovereignly Selects his disciples. He calls unto himself whom he would and the next verse says this and he ordained twelve that they might be With him and that he might send forth to preach the gospel. I Want you to note sending them forth to preach the gospel is secondary Being with him It's primary So they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus Now since we're in Acts 4, let's go down to verse 23 They've already been arrested Thrown in prison got out I want you to watch this Acts chapter 4 verse 23 and being let go They went to their own company and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

[John Weaver] And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord and said, Lord, thou art God, which has made heaven and earth and the sea and all that in them is, who by the mouth of thy servant David had said, why did the heathen rage and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ. For a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings. O Lord, they're threatening us even more. Behold their threatenings, and grant unto thy servants that with all boldness we may preach thy word. By stretching forth thine hand to heal and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus and when they had prayed the place was shaken where they were assembled together and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and they spake the word of God with boldness

[John Weaver] Wow I Wonder why We've lost the boldness in our day and age And the answer is because we've never asked the Lord for holy boldness. We never continued in abiding with the Lord in order to receive holy boldness. So here's a good question. Have you ever asked the Lord for holy boldness? Have you ever asked the Lord to make you a witness and to make you a testimony in the face of tyranny and wickedness and despotism? Have you ever asked the Lord to use you to confront evil and wickedness? Have you ever asked the Lord to make you an example in your Christian walk?

[John Weaver] I'm gonna tell you something. I believe the time basically has come that we need a holy boldness. We need to stand for Jesus Christ like we've never stood for Jesus Christ before. You look at all the wickedness that is prevalent today. You look at humanism. You look at corruption. You look at the perversions. You look at all the filth that is going on. You look how America has sunk. You look as the Christian church has gone down. You look how Christians have gone down. Look how families have gone down.

[John Weaver] The truth is, we better get our act together. And by the way, religious tyranny is just as bad as civil tyranny. Wickedness in the church is just as awful and just as corrupt as wickedness in civil government. And when we sit silently and say nothing and do nothing, it is to sin by consent. Let me show you. I want you to turn in your Bibles to Psalm 50. Psalm 50 Psalm 50 and let's begin reading there with verse 16 Psalm 50 verse 16 Look what God says but into the wicked God saith What is thou to do declare my statutes? Or thou shouldest take my covenant by mouth seeing thou hadest instruction and castest my words behind thee." Let me just make an application. To the wicked God says, what is thou to do to declare my statutes? Or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? Seeing thou hadest instruction and castest thy words behind thee.

[John Weaver] I remember there had been a number of people ask me from time to time, well, Have you heard Elvis Presley sing this beautiful hymn?" And my response would be, no, and neither do I want to hear him. Why would I want to hear an ungodly man try to sing a godly hymn? Stop and think about that. Why would I want to hear an ungodly man try to mimic Proclaim the Word of God. God said you have no right to do that. You look around We haven't had TV in years and I always hated when they would always have these Movie stars would always have these Christmas specials And they would have all these songs and and the end They had to have one hymn and all of them come together and then I think Why would you do that? I mean everything else is corrupt But anyhow, this is what God said. What have you got to take my word in your eye? You hate instruction. You won't listen. You won't live it. You won't you won't receive it now Look what he says in verse 18 When thou sawest a thief then thou consentest with him and it's been partakers with adulterers.

[John Weaver] I Now give us thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue from his deceit. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother, and slandered thine own mother's son. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence. He said, Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such in one as thyself, but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.

[John Weaver] Now consider this, you that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. Now go back to verse 18 when thou sawest a thief then thou consentest with him and has been partaker with adulterers What does he mean when you saw a thief you consented with you didn't say anything? You didn't rebuke him. You didn't try to stop him When you silently sit there and let someone sin God says that's approval you've been partakers with adultery why you don't you don't disavow it You don't rebuke it you consent to it To consent is to sin by silence.

[John Weaver] So this is what I'm trying to tell you today, folks. There is a time, I believe, for holy boldness. And that holy boldness is needed and necessary today in light of all the sin and wickedness that is prevalent on every hand. I hope you've noticed just a couple of things by way of application. The first one is this it takes the fear of God to overcome the fear of man It takes the fear of God to overcome the fear of man What happened to Joseph of Arimathea? What happened in Nicodemus? What happened to the Apostles? They came to the realization that God is sovereign and And that they should fear Him and fear Him alone. I quoted last week Proverbs 29 verse 25, the fear of man bringeth a snare.

[John Weaver] But whoso putteth this trust in Him shall be safe. And the fear of man does indeed bring a snare. And if we're going to have the fear of God, it means that we must meditate upon His Word. We must assimilate His Word. We must stay with the Lord Jesus Christ. We must abide with Him. We must be with Him. And we must understand that He alone is to be feared. There's this is encouraging one sense of the word. I think there's another application. And I think that application is this. There are probably people who are believers in Jesus Christ that you and I would never ever think about being believers in Jesus Christ. Who would have ever thought Joseph of Arimathea a member of the Sanhedrin? would be a secret disciple of Jesus Christ. How about Nicodemus? But you know what God did?

[John Weaver] God kept those men behind the scenes until they were needed. And then they came out boldly and brazenly and courageously and stood for the Lord Jesus Christ. So it is encouraging in one sense of the word. When you stop and think about this, well I know there are brethren who will stand with me, but there are brethren who will probably stand even more so that we do not even know about, or whom we would not even consider as being Christians.

[John Weaver] I would imagine Joseph of Arimathea would have been under suspicion just by being a member of the Sanhedrin. Wow! God uses heroic men in desperate times. And at the crucifixion of our Lord, it was a desperate time. And God sovereignly called forth Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. And after the resurrection, he gave those apostles power that they might be bold in the name of Jesus Christ. And that's what we need. We need to learn to ask the Lord for holy boldness, that we may proclaim his word and stand for his truth. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to you this day. We thank you for your word. We ask for holiness. We ask for boldness. We ask for grace and mercy.

[John Weaver] that we may serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. In Thy name we pray. Amen.

[John Weaver] you you

Overcoming The Fear Of The Jews

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	xtLvHRX-Kv0
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Genesis: Abraham, Covenant, and Promise
Genre	Sermon
Date	2018-10-01
Dictation Name
Book	Book 075: Genesis — Chapter 13
Source Timed Segments	62

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Review of 'For Fear of the Jews'

Weaver introduces the second part of his message, reviewing the biblical phrase 'for fear of the Jews' and its implications, and encourages listeners to study his prior series on Israel and Judaism.

To the book of Mark, Mark chapter 15, Mark 15, and we're going to be reading verses 42 and 43. Now this is going to be the second part of the message that I began last week. I will take time to review, especially for Francis and Van who are not here. And I trust that you'll be able to follow very easily today. Look in Mark chapter 15 and notice if you would please verses 42 and 43. The scripture says,

Scripture Reading — Mark 15:42-43

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

Last week, I preached a message which I entitled, "For Fear of the Jews." And I'm going to take a few moments and review that momentarily. Today, the message is entitled, "Overcoming the Fear of the Jews." So last week, as I pointed out the fact, in the scripture over and over, the Bible talks about "for fear of the Jews."

This phrase has many implications. I also reminded you that years ago I preached a six-part series on "Who Is Israel" and then later on another five-part series on "Jews, Judaism and Christianity." And I encourage each one of you, if you've heard those messages, wonderful, but listen to them. If you haven't heard them, please do so. I'm going to give a quote or two just from those messages in order to try to catch us up. But may I point out that the very first time the word "Jews" occurs in our King James Bible you will find it in 2 Kings chapter 16 and verse 6. There the Bible says, "At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drove the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day." Now, when it says he drove the Jews from Elath, that is, he drove away the Judeans. The Judeans were from the southern kingdom. And here it is called the Jews. So you have to remember, in Israel, there were two kingdoms.

Defining 'the Jews' in Scripture

He explains that 'Jews' in the Old Testament refers to Judeans or descendants of Judah, and in the New Testament often denotes the ruling elite—Sadducees and Pharisees—who held religious and civil authority.

There was the northern kingdom. There was a southern kingdom. And the southern kingdom, of course, contained the tribe of Judah, particularly. Also, it contained the tribes of Benjamin and Simeon as well. But the word "Jews" is used both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament in different ways. For instance, in the Old Testament the Hebrew word is Yehudi and it literally refers to someone who is a Judahite or a descendant of Judah. It is also used in the Bible six ways. Number one, to describe a person or persons from the tribe of Judah. Number two, it describes the kingdom of Judah. Number three, the land of Judah or Judea. Number four, the nation of Judah. Number five, the house of Judah, which would refer to anyone belonging to the kingdom, the house, the tribe, the nation of Judah. And then lastly, it refers to the religion of the Jews in the New Testament.

The Greek word is Ioudaios, and it just simply means a Judean. So when you see the word in the New Testament or in the Old Testament, particularly, it refers to someone who is associated with or connected with the land of Judea or the nation of Judah or from the tribe of Judah. When you get to the New Testament, it refers more to the religion. That's why the Apostle Paul said that he prospered in the Jews' religion above many of his equals. And then of course in Galatians chapter 1 he talks about the religion of the Jews twice. And I ask this question, have you ever noticed that today when someone says anything about the Jews, whether it's deserving or not is immaterial, you're very quickly labeled as anti-Semitic. Most people have never understood what that term actually means.

I want to give you a definition from the Oxford Dictionary, the Oxford English Dictionary, and I want you to listen to what it says. Here it defines Semite: "a member of any of the peoples who speak or spoke a Semitic language, including in particular Jews and Arabs," the Arabian people or Semitic people as well. Then it goes on to say this: the word derives from the modern Latin Semita through the late Latin from Greek Sēm, or Shem, the son of Noah in the Bible from whom these peoples were traditionally supposed to be descended. So when you get to Genesis chapter 11 you see there the genealogy relating to Shem. And you read right on down and you find that Abraham is in the descendants of Shem. Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

And everything comes through Shem as far as the line of the Messiah is concerned. And interestingly enough, when you talk about Semites or Shemites, you have to remember that Abraham not only had Isaac with Sarah, he also had Ishmael with Hagar. Hence the Arabians. And if you look very quickly in your Bibles to the book of Genesis chapter 25, you will find that Abraham produced an awful lot of seed. Because after Sarah died, he took another wife. Her name was Keturah. And if you'll note what the Bible says, beginning with verse 1 of Genesis 25,

Scripture Reading — Genesis 25:1-5

"Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah."

And then you read verses 3 and 4 and 5, and then you find some of the grandchildren of some of these children. So, obviously now you're going to have more Semites because they are through the loins of Abraham.

Now, I pointed out that usually you have to understand that when you hear the term "Jews," especially in the Old Testament, it referred to those who were in the Southern Kingdom. Let me say this again. I've already said it: in the southern kingdom, you had the tribe of Judah. You also had the tribe of Benjamin. You also had the tribe of Simeon. And although Benjamin and Simeon had their inheritance in Judea, they maintained their tribal identity. I want you to turn to the book of Romans chapter 11 and let me show you something. If you turn there, I'm going to try to explain what I just said after I read this passage. If you look in Romans chapter 11 and verse 1, the Apostle Paul in referring to himself, after he asked this question, he says, "I say then, Hath God cast away his people?" Then he says, "God forbid." And watch this explanation. He said, "For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin." So Paul now is claiming to be an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. Well, I suppose he could have also said that he was a

The Power and Corruption of the Ruling Elite

Weaver details the authority of the Sanhedrin, Sadducees, and Pharisees, including their power to arrest, imprison, and excommunicate, and their corruption as described by John the Baptist and Jesus.

I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of John. Let me just give you a quick review. Look in the book of John, chapter 9, if you would. This is where Jesus Christ had healed the man that had been born blind. Of course I went over this last week. I'm not going to read the entire passage. But if you look in John 9 in verse 22, here is what the parents said to the Jews. Watch carefully these words:

Scripture Reading — John 9:22

"These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews."

Whoa, wait a minute. They were Judeans themselves. Now it says they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, "He is of age; ask him." So what Jews had agreed already? Those who were in control. Those who had the power and authority to ostracize and excommunicate and kick someone out of the synagogue. If you look in the book of John chapter 20—and we're coming back to John 12—

but look in John 20 and verse 19 and I'll explain this verse momentarily in light of some other verses. So look in John 20 and verse 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." So the disciples were meeting behind closed doors, probably locked doors. Why? The Bible says "for fear of the Jews." Well, they were not afraid of every Judean. They were afraid of the ruling elite because of their power and their authority. So, if you look back in your Bibles now to the book of John chapter 12, John chapter 12, and notice if you would please verse 42. We'll come back to this verse a little bit later anyhow. John 12 verse 42, "Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue." Wow. So even some of the chief rulers who were part and parcel of the Pharisees would not confess Christ lest they be kicked out by the others. And now you have to remember that the Pharisees had control of the people, the general populace, the synagogues. The Sadducees had control of the temple. Now interestingly enough the Sadducees and the Pharisees not only had some religious authority and religious power, they also had some civil power and criminal power, that is to arrest criminals. If you would look in your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 5 and let's begin there with verse 18.

In fact, let's read verse 17 just so you can see the context. Acts chapter 5 verse 17, the Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Acts 5:17-18

"Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation."

So what did they do? They were filled with indignation against the apostles,

Scripture Reading — Acts 5:17-18

"and laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison."

So evidently they either had power to incarcerate or authority to incarcerate or they were very closely connected to someone who did. If you would look in the book of Acts chapter 8, you remember Saul of Tarsus before he was saved and became the mighty Apostle Paul. The Bible says this, "And as for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison." You remember Paul was a Pharisee. In fact, he identified himself as a Pharisee of the Pharisees. So here is a Pharisee hauling men and women off to prison. Then if you look in Acts chapter 26 at the testimony that the Apostle Paul gave, notice what he said in Acts chapter 26 and verse 10. Acts 26 and verse 10.

He's giving his testimony before King Agrippa and he says this:

Scripture Reading — Acts 26:10-11

"Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities."

Now I want you to notice verse 10 if you would. Here the Apostle Paul says, before his conversion, he shut up many of the saints in prison. Then he says this,

Scripture Reading — Acts 26:10-11

"having received authority from the chief priests."

In other words, they're the ones that sanctioned it. And when they, that is plural, when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. It was not just that he was consenting to the death of Stephen, he did so in Acts chapter 6, but evidently there were many more as well.

So here you find the power of this ruling elite, the power of the Jews. Now you have to remember again, let me repeat it, that the Pharisees had control of the populace because of the synagogue. But the Sadducees had control over the temple because it was from the Sadducees that you had the priestly order. It was both the Pharisees and the Sadducees that made up the Sanhedrin which was the ruling court. Now during the time of the Romans, and especially the Roman governors like Pontius Pilate, the Sanhedrin only had jurisdiction in the province of Judea. The Sanhedrin had its own police force. It had civil authority and criminal authority as well. However, in the New Testament, under the Romans, although they could arrest and although they could condemn, they could not execute. It was the Sanhedrin that condemned Jesus Christ. The Romans reserved to themselves the right to execute. Hence Jesus Christ was crucified, which is a Roman death, and not stoned to death, which was an Israelite or a Mosaic death. Because at that particular time although they could condemn, they certainly did not have the power to execute; the Romans had taken that away from them. Now if you go back to John chapter 18—and by the way, you remember when Jesus Christ was standing before Pilate and Pilate asked, "Whom shall I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus?" and of course they all hollered for Barabbas. And why?

"What evil hath he done?" What did they say? They said, "We have a law, and by our law he ought to die." But they did not have the power to execute him. So if you look in John chapter 18, look there if you would beginning in verse 12. Just to show you that they had the power to arrest. "Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews"—not all the Judeans, but the ruling elite—"took Jesus, and bound him, and led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year." Note, if you would, "then the band," that is the men that were with them, "and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus."

So the Sanhedrin, and the Sadducees and the Pharisees were notoriously corrupt. They were not only corrupt, they were tyrannical. They were despotic. You either agreed with them or submitted to them or else you were ostracized, excommunicated, imprisoned or executed. They considered themselves above the law. Much like our government and like our politicians today, they could do whatever they thought they wanted to do. To show you how corrupt they were, you must remember when these individuals came to John's baptism in Matthew 3 and verse 7, he said to them, "O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" So he called them a bunch of vipers. And then when you get to Matthew chapter 23 and verse 33, Jesus Christ said to them, "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?" So our Lord said they were not only serpents and vipers but that they were doomed and damned and they could not escape the damnation of hell, because they were so exceedingly corrupt.

Now, therefore, because of their corruption, there were a lot of people that feared their authority and their power. It was usurped authority most of the time, and it was corrupt power most of the time, because these people basically did as they pleased. So if you'll go back to John chapter 12 very quickly and look at this in light of what I just shared with you. John chapter 12 beginning there with verse 42. John 12 verse 42.

Now you're going to see what I'm talking about. John 12 verse 42:

Scripture Reading — John 12:42-43

"Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."

So here you had all of these corrupt individuals. However, there were exceptions. One of the exceptions happened to be a man by the name of Joseph of Arimathea. The Bible tells us he was a rich man. He was an honorable man. He was a counselor.

Joseph of Arimathea: A Secret Disciple

Examining the four Gospel accounts, Weaver shows that Joseph was a rich, honorable counselor and member of the Sanhedrin who was a secret disciple for fear of the Jews, yet did not consent to Jesus' condemnation.

Now you're going to see what I'm talking about. John 12 verse 42:

Scripture Reading — John 12:42-43

"Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."

He was a secret disciple. The Bible tells us that he waited for the kingdom of God. But you're going to ask this question: Why was Joseph of Arimathea a secret disciple? And here's the answer: for fear of the Jews. I want to show you something that may astound you. It may amaze you. I want you to turn in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 27. I want to show you four passages concerning Joseph of Arimathea. And as you understand who this man was, you're going to understand the power and the influence that the Jews had. Notice, if you would please, in Matthew chapter 27, beginning there with verse 57. The Bible says, "When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth."

Now, verse 60 he said, "And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed." Note if you would, first of all we are told that Joseph was a rich man of Arimathea. We're also told that he was Jesus' disciple. We're also told that he went in and begged the body of Jesus Christ. Now look if you would please in the book of Mark chapter 15 and notice if you would verses 42 and 43. This was our text, but I want to point some things out as we read about Joseph. Mark chapter 15 verse 42: "And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, 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." Now we're told that Joseph was an honorable counselor. We're told that he waited for the kingdom of God. We're also told that he went in boldly unto Pilate and craved the body of Jesus.

The interesting thing is this: when the Bible says in verse 43 that he was an honorable counselor, the word "counselor" refers to a senator. In other words, Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin. Let me show you. Look in your Bibles to Luke chapter 23. Luke chapter 23 beginning there with verse 50. Luke 23 verse 50, read what is said about Joseph: "And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just." Are you ready?

Scripture Reading — Luke 23:50-52

"(The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;)"

that is the rest of the Sanhedrin.

Scripture Reading — Luke 23:50-52

"He was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus."

So here is Joseph of Arimathea, who is in the Sanhedrin himself, who is a secret disciple. And the reason he has not made known his faith is for fear of these Jews who had control

of the temple and the synagogue and the people. Now, if you would turn right over to the book of John, chapter 19, and look in verse 38. John 19, verse 38. Here it is spelled out in black and white for you:

Scripture Reading — John 19:38

"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."

So here was a man who was rich, who was honorable, who was a secret disciple of Jesus Christ, who waited for the kingdom of God, who had power and authority himself and was a member of the Sanhedrin, and yet he still feared the Jews, that is the rest of those who were in the Sanhedrin. And when Jesus Christ was tried and condemned, he did not consent with their verdict and he did not consent with their deed.

Joseph's Boldness at the Crucifixion

Weaver highlights Joseph's courageous act of boldly asking Pilate for Jesus' body, contrasting it with the disciples' fear, and cites early church commentators on the significance of this bravery.

Now I want you to note something. The Bible tells us it was this man that went in and boldly asked for the body of the Lord Jesus Christ. So let me ask you a question. Where were the 12 disciples? Where were the 12 apostles? Judas had hanged himself. And the Bible also tells us in Mark 14 in verse 50 that when they took Jesus, the rest of the disciples forsook Him and fled.

As far as I can tell there was only one of the original 12 at the crucifixion and that was John. If you look back in your Bibles to the book of John chapter 19 beginning there with verse 25, John 19 verse 25: "Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved"—that's John—"he 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." So here is John standing there and our Lord commits his mother into the hands of the Apostle John. There was one other that may or may not have been there.

I would probably say not, but it would be a matter of interpretation when you get to 1 Peter chapter 5 and verse 2 and Peter also says there that he was an eyewitness to his sufferings. Well, you can be an eyewitness to the sufferings without being an eyewitness to all of the sufferings. Certainly Peter was in the garden when he prayed and sweat great drops of sweat as blood, and Peter was with him when they came to arrest him, for it was Peter who cut off Malchus's ear with a sword. And certainly Peter was there at the hall of judgment because it was there that he denied the Lord three times. So just how far you can interpret what he said about being an eyewitness to the sufferings of Christ, he may have been hiding somewhere beholding afar off. I don't know, but the Bible just simply says that he was there. Now when all the disciples did get back together after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, if you'll go back to verse 19 of John chapter 20, and I've already read it, but let me point it out again. This is after the

death of Jesus Christ. "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." Now, I want to just try to emphasize something for you. I want to emphasize for you the great bravery and courage that was exhibited by Joseph of Arimathea. We may not think too much of it today, but it took a great deal of courage. I want to give you three quotes, one is going to be from John Chrysostom who was an early Church father, then from Albert Barnes, and then from Adam Clarke. Chrysostom says this: "The courage of Joseph is greatly to be admired, in that for the love of Christ he exposed himself to the danger of death." Now, how in the world could Joseph then be exposing himself to the danger of death? Well, listen to what Albert Barnes writes. He says, "God had raised up this distinguished counsellor and secret disciple for a special and most important vocation.

The disciples of Jesus had fled, and if they had not, they had no influence with Pilate. Unless there had been a special application to Pilate in behalf of Jesus, his body would have been buried that night in the common grave with the malefactors. For it was the law of the Jews that the body of an executed man could not remain on the cross on the Sabbath. At this critical juncture, God called forward this secret disciple, this friend of Jesus, though unknown as such to the world, and gave him confidence. He dared to express sympathy for the Saviour. He went in boldly and begged the body of Jesus." "It needed no small measure of courage to do this. Jesus had just been condemned, mocked, spit upon, crucified—the death of a slave and of the most guilty wretch. To avow attachment for Him now was proof of sincere affection. And the Holy Spirit has thought this worthy of special notice, and has set down this bold attachment of a senator for Jesus for our imitation." So stop and think about this. It's going to get a little better just for a moment, but stop and think about it. Jesus Christ had already been condemned. He'd been mocked. He'd been spit upon. He'd been crucified. And now Joseph goes in and says, "I want his body." And he doesn't go into a funeral home. He goes to Pilate, the man who had him sentenced to death. Adam Clarke says it like this—now put two and two together when you hear this.

"He who was a coward before, now acts a more open, fearless part than any of the disciples of our Lord. This the Holy Spirit has thought worthy of a special notice. It needed no small measure of courage to declare now for Jesus, who had been a few hours ago condemned as a blasphemer by the Jews and as a seditious person by the Romans. And this was the more remarkable in Joseph, because hitherto for fear of the Jews he'd been only a secret disciple of our Lord." Now listen: "He who was a coward before, now acts a more open, fearless part than any of the disciples of our Lord." The providence of God has a way of bringing his followers to light even in the face of death and condemnation. So here's Joseph. Jesus Christ has just been crucified as a blasphemer by the Jews and a seditious person by the Romans. And now he goes in and says, "I want the body of Jesus Christ." He's identifying himself as a follower of Jesus Christ, by the way. Here's a good question: Do you know who provided all the spices for the burial of Jesus Christ?

The Transformation of the Apostles

He explains that the apostles' fear was overcome by being with Jesus and being filled with the Holy Spirit, leading to their boldness before the Sanhedrin in Acts 4.

They were afraid of the ruling elite. They were afraid of the power and the authority of the Jews. So what made the difference? Well, let me show you. Let's look at our Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 4. Acts chapter 4. Acts chapter 4 and let's begin reading there with verse 5. Acts 4 and verse 5. And we'll certainly go down and read through verse 13. This is where the disciples had healed a lame man and watch what happens. Acts 4 verse 5: "And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes"—now, I hope you're beginning to see the Jews, the ruling elite—"and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred

of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem." It was a clique. It was a corrupt cabal. Here were the rulers, here were the Jews. Watch verse 7: "And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?" How did you heal this man? "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Now, when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. Now, let me just stop. You remember in Acts chapter 1, our Lord told his disciples, "But tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." In Acts chapter 2, the Holy Ghost came upon them and they began to witness and they began to preach and teach. And now they've been arrested. They've been called to account for healing this man. And what does Peter say? "You rulers, you wicked men, you have taken the Lord Jesus Christ and crucified him. This was your responsibility; you killed him, but God raised him from the dead. And it's through this man and through his power that this impotent man is now made whole. Be it known unto you, you listen to us." And notice if you would the last verse that I read: "And they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." What was it that gave these disciples a holy boldness? It was not just the Holy Spirit. Certainly it was him. But they were with the Lord Jesus Christ. Let me tell you something.

There's a passage in Mark chapter 3 verses 13 and 14 where Jesus calls his disciples. And in that passage the Bible says this: "He goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would." So he sovereignly selects his disciples. He calls unto himself whom he would. And the next verse says this: "And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach." I want you to note: sending them forth to preach the gospel is secondary. Being with him is primary. So they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus. Now since we're in Acts 4, let's go down to verse 23. They've already been arrested, thrown in prison, got out. I want you to watch this. Acts chapter 4 verse 23: "And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness."

Wow. I wonder why we've lost the boldness in our day and age. And the answer is because we've never asked the Lord for holy boldness. We never continued in abiding with the Lord in order to receive holy boldness. So here's a good question. Have you ever asked the Lord for holy boldness? Have you ever asked the Lord to make you a witness and to make you a testimony in the face of tyranny and wickedness and despotism? Have you ever asked the Lord to use you to confront evil and wickedness? Have you ever asked the Lord to make you an example in your Christian walk?

The Need for Holy Boldness Today

Weaver applies the lesson to contemporary believers, urging them to ask God for holy boldness to confront evil and not sin by silent consent, citing Psalm 50.

I'm gonna tell you something. I believe the time basically has come that we need a holy boldness. We need to stand for Jesus Christ like we've never stood for Jesus Christ before. You look at all the wickedness that is prevalent today. You look at humanism. You look at corruption. You look at the perversions. You look at all the filth that is going on. You look how America has sunk. You look as the Christian church has gone down. You look how Christians have gone down. Look how families have gone down.

The truth is, we better get our act together. And by the way, religious tyranny is just as bad as civil tyranny. Wickedness in the church is just as awful and just as corrupt as wickedness in civil government. And when we sit silently and say nothing and do nothing, it is to sin by consent. Let me show you. I want you to turn in your Bibles to Psalm 50. Psalm 50. Psalm 50 and let's begin reading there with verse 16. Psalm 50 verse 16. Look what God says: "But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee." Let me just make an application. To the wicked God says, "What hast thou to do to declare my statutes? Or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee."

I remember there had been a number of people ask me from time to time, "Well, have you heard Elvis Presley sing this beautiful hymn?" And my response would be, "No, and neither do I want to hear him." Why would I want to hear an ungodly man try to sing a godly hymn? Stop and think about that. Why would I want to hear an ungodly man try to mimic, proclaim the Word of God? God said you have no right to do that. You look around. We haven't had TV in years and I always hated when they would always have these movie stars would always have these Christmas specials. And they would have all these songs and at the end they had to have one hymn and all of them come together and then I think, why would you do that? I mean everything else is corrupt. But anyhow, this is what God said. "What hast thou to do to take my word in thy mouth?" You hate instruction. You won't listen. You won't live it. You won't receive it. Now look what he says in verse 18: "When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers."

"Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes." "Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver." Now go back to verse 18: "When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers." What does he mean? When you saw a thief, you consented with him. You didn't say anything. You didn't rebuke him. You didn't try to stop him. When you silently sit there and let someone sin, God says that's approval. You've been partakers with adultery. Why? You don't disavow it. You don't rebuke it. You consent to it. To consent is to sin by silence.

So this is what I'm trying to tell you today, folks. There is a time, I believe, for holy boldness. And that holy boldness is needed and necessary today in light of all the sin and wickedness that is prevalent on every hand. I hope you've noticed just a couple of things by way of application. The first one is this: it takes the fear of God to overcome the fear of man. It takes the fear of God to overcome the fear of man. What happened to Joseph of Arimathea? What happened in Nicodemus? What happened to the Apostles? They came to the realization that God is sovereign and that they should fear Him and fear Him alone. I quoted last week Proverbs 29 verse 25, "The fear of man bringeth a snare."

Conclusion and Prayer

He concludes that God raises heroic men in desperate times, encourages believers to seek holy boldness, and closes in prayer for grace to serve God with reverence and godly fear.

"But whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe." And the fear of man does indeed bring a snare. And if we're going to have the fear of God, it means that we must meditate upon His Word. We must assimilate His Word. We must stay with the Lord Jesus Christ. We must abide with Him. We must be with Him. And we must understand that He alone is to be feared. There's this—it's encouraging in one sense of the word. I think there's another application. And I think that application is this: there are probably people who are believers in Jesus Christ that you and I would never ever think about being believers in Jesus Christ. Who would have ever thought Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Sanhedrin, would be a secret disciple of Jesus Christ? How about Nicodemus? But you know what God did?

God kept those men behind the scenes until they were needed. And then they came out boldly and brazenly and courageously and stood for the Lord Jesus Christ. So it is encouraging in one sense of the word. When you stop and think about this, well I know there are brethren who will stand with me, but there are brethren who will probably stand even more so that we do not even know about, or whom we would not even consider as being Christians. I would imagine Joseph of Arimathea would have been under suspicion just by being a member of the Sanhedrin. Wow! God uses heroic men in desperate times. And at the crucifixion of our Lord, it was a desperate time. And God sovereignly called forth Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. And after the resurrection, he gave those apostles power that they might be bold in the name of Jesus Christ. And that's what we need. We need to learn to ask the Lord for holy boldness, that we may proclaim his word and stand for his truth. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to you this day. We thank you for your word. We ask for holiness. We ask for boldness. We ask for grace and mercy,

that we may serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. In Thy name we pray. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Identity of 'the Jews' as the Ruling Elite

Summary: The term 'the Jews' in the New Testament often refers not to all Judeans but to the corrupt religious and civil leaders—Sadducees and Pharisees—who held power over the temple, synagogues, and Sanhedrin.

Evidence: Weaver explains that 'the Jews' in John 9:22 and John 20:19 refers to the ruling elite who could excommunicate or arrest, and that the Sanhedrin had its own police force and authority to imprison.

Fear of Man vs. Fear of God

Summary: The fear of the ruling elite caused many, including Joseph of Arimathea and the disciples, to hide their faith, but the fear of God ultimately produces holy boldness to overcome the fear of man.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'It takes the fear of God to overcome the fear of man,' and cites Proverbs 29:25, 'The fear of man bringeth a snare,' to show that trust in the Lord brings safety.

Holy Boldness in the Face of Tyranny

Summary: Believers are called to exhibit courageous, bold witness for Christ even when facing corrupt authority, as exemplified by Joseph of Arimathea and the apostles after Pentecost.

Evidence: Weaver emphasizes Joseph's 'boldly' (Greek tolmaō) going to Pilate, and the apostles' prayer for boldness in Acts 4:29-31, resulting in them speaking the word with boldness.

The Danger of Sin by Consent

Summary: Silence in the face of evil is equivalent to consent and participation in sin, as God warns in Psalm 50:18 that seeing a thief and not rebuking him makes one a partaker.

Evidence: Weaver reads Psalm 50:16-18 and explains, 'When you silently sit there and let someone sin, God says that's approval... To consent is to sin by silence.'

God's Sovereign Preparation of Hidden Disciples

Summary: God sometimes keeps believers hidden until a critical moment when He calls them to act boldly, as seen in Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, who were secret disciples until the crucifixion.

Evidence: Weaver notes that Joseph and Nicodemus were secret disciples 'for fear of the Jews' but came forward at the crucifixion, and says, 'God kept those men behind the scenes until they were needed.'

Key Arguments

Joseph of Arimathea's boldness was a direct result of understanding Christ's substitutionary death.

Summary: Weaver argues that Joseph, as a counselor who waited for the kingdom, understood the Old Testament sacrifices and recognized Jesus as the Lamb of God, which compelled him to publicly identify with Christ even at the worst possible time.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'I believe he understood the sacrificial and substitutionary death of Jesus Christ... Joseph probably at this moment grasped and understood the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ.'

The apostles' transformation from fear to boldness came from being with Jesus and being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Summary: Weaver contends that the disciples' boldness in Acts 4 was not merely the result of the Spirit's filling but also because they had been with Jesus, as the Sanhedrin recognized, and because they prayed for boldness.

Evidence: He cites Acts 4:13, 'they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus,' and the prayer in Acts 4:29-31 where they asked for boldness and were filled with the Holy Ghost.

The term 'Jews' in the New Testament often denotes the corrupt ruling elite, not all Judeans.

Summary: Weaver argues that 'the Jews' who were feared were specifically the Sadducees and Pharisees who controlled the temple, synagogues, and Sanhedrin, and that this distinction is crucial for understanding passages about fear of the Jews.

Evidence: He explains that in John 9:22 the parents feared 'the Jews' who had agreed to excommunicate confessors of Christ, and that these were the ruling elite, not all Judeans.

Silence in the face of wickedness is sin by consent.

Summary: Weaver argues from Psalm 50:18 that when believers see evil and do not speak out or rebuke it, they are consenting to it and become partakers in that sin.

Evidence: He reads Psalm 50:18 and states, 'When you saw a thief, you consented with him. You didn't say anything... When you silently sit there and let someone sin, God says that's approval.'

Scripture References

Mark 15:42-43

Context: The primary text for the sermon, describing Joseph of Arimathea boldly asking Pilate for Jesus' body.

2 Kings 16:6

Context: The first occurrence of the word 'Jews' in the King James Bible, referring to Judeans being driven from Elath.

Genesis 25:1-5

Context: Abraham's descendants through Keturah, showing that Semites include more than just the line of Isaac.

Romans 11:1

Context: Paul identifies as an Israelite of the tribe of Benjamin, illustrating tribal identity within Judea.

John 9:22

Context: The parents of the healed blind man feared the Jews because they had agreed to excommunicate anyone confessing Christ.

John 20:19

Context: The disciples met behind closed doors for fear of the Jews after the crucifixion.

John 12:42-43

Context: Many chief rulers believed but did not confess Christ for fear of the Pharisees and love of men's praise.

Acts 5:17-18

Context: The high priest and Sadducees arrested the apostles and put them in prison.

Acts 8:3

Context: Saul (a Pharisee) made havoc of the church, hauling men and women to prison.

Acts 26:10-11

Context: Paul testifies that he received authority from the chief priests to imprison and punish saints.

Matthew 3:7

Context: John the Baptist called the Pharisees and Sadducees a 'generation of vipers.'

Matthew 23:33

Context: Jesus called the scribes and Pharisees serpents and vipers, asking how they could escape hell's damnation.

Matthew 27:57-60

Context: Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man and disciple, asked Pilate for Jesus' body and buried it in his own tomb.

Luke 23:50-52

Context: Joseph, a counselor and good man, did not consent to the Sanhedrin's decision and begged Jesus' body.

John 19:38

Context: Joseph of Arimathea, a secret disciple for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate for Jesus' body.

John 19:25-27

Context: John was present at the crucifixion, and Jesus committed his mother to John's care.

John 19:39

Context: Nicodemus brought a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes for Jesus' burial.

Mark 8:38

Context: Jesus warns that whoever is ashamed of Him in this adulterous generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them.

Acts 4:5-13

Context: Peter and John boldly testified before the Sanhedrin, and the rulers recognized they had been with Jesus.

Psalm 50:16-22

Context: God rebukes the wicked for declaring His statutes while hating instruction, and warns that seeing a thief and remaining silent is consent.

Historical References

John Chrysostom (early Church father)

Context: Weaver quotes Chrysostom: 'The courage of Joseph is greatly to be admired, in that for the love of Christ he exposed himself to the danger of death.'

Albert Barnes (19th-century theologian)

Context: Weaver quotes Barnes on God raising up Joseph as a secret disciple for the special vocation of burying Jesus, noting the courage needed.

Adam Clarke (18th-century theologian)

Context: Weaver quotes Clarke: 'He who was a coward before, now acts a more open, fearless part than any of the disciples of our Lord.'

Sanhedrin

Context: The Jewish ruling council during the Roman period, composed of Sadducees and Pharisees, with civil and criminal authority but limited power of execution under Roman rule.

Roman governance in Judea

Context: Weaver explains that the Romans reserved the right of execution, which is why Jesus was crucified (a Roman death) rather than stoned (a Mosaic death).

Important Quotes

The courage of Joseph is greatly to be admired, in that for the love of Christ he exposed himself to the danger of death.

Significance: This quote from Chrysostom highlights the extreme risk Joseph took by identifying with Christ after the crucifixion, emphasizing the theme of holy boldness.

He who was a coward before, now acts a more open, fearless part than any of the disciples of our Lord.

Significance: Adam Clarke's observation underscores the transformation in Joseph from secret disciple to bold confessor, serving as a model for overcoming fear.

It takes the fear of God to overcome the fear of man.

Significance: This concise statement captures the central application of the sermon: that reverential awe of God is the antidote to the paralyzing fear of human authority.

When you silently sit there and let someone sin, God says that's approval. You've been partakers with adultery. Why? You don't disavow it. You don't rebuke it. You consent to it. To consent is to sin by silence.

Significance: Weaver's explanation of Psalm 50:18 drives home the urgent need for believers to speak out against evil rather than remain passive.

God kept those men behind the scenes until they were needed. And then they came out boldly and brazenly and courageously and stood for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Significance: This insight encourages believers that God may have hidden disciples who will emerge at critical moments, reinforcing the theme of divine sovereignty.

Discussion Questions

In what ways does the fear of man manifest in our lives today, and how can we cultivate the fear of God to overcome it?

Context: Weaver emphasizes that the fear of God is the antidote to the fear of man, citing Proverbs 29:25.

How does understanding the identity of 'the Jews' as the ruling elite change our reading of New Testament passages about fear and persecution?

Context: Weaver explains that 'the Jews' often refers to the Sadducees and Pharisees, not all Judeans.

What can we learn from Joseph of Arimathea's example about the timing and manner of publicly identifying with Christ?

Context: Joseph was a secret disciple until the crucifixion, when he boldly asked for Jesus' body.

Why is silence in the face of evil considered consent according to Psalm 50, and what are practical ways we can avoid this sin?

Context: Weaver warns that not rebuking sin is to consent to it, using Psalm 50:18.

How did the apostles' time with Jesus and their filling with the Holy Spirit produce boldness, and how can we seek similar boldness today?

Context: The Sanhedrin recognized the apostles had been with Jesus, and they prayed for boldness in Acts 4.

Applications

Ask God for holy boldness to witness and stand for truth.

Summary: Weaver urges believers to pray for boldness to proclaim God's word and confront evil, following the example of the apostles in Acts 4.

Evidence: He asks, 'Have you ever asked the Lord for holy boldness? Have you ever asked the Lord to make you a witness and to make you a testimony in the face of tyranny and wickedness?'

Do not sin by silent consent; speak out against evil.

Summary: Believers must not remain silent when they see sin, because silence is interpreted by God as approval and participation.

Evidence: Weaver explains Psalm 50:18, 'When you saw a thief, you consented with him... To consent is to sin by silence.'

Cultivate the fear of God through meditation on His Word and abiding with Christ.

Summary: To overcome the fear of man, believers must meditate on Scripture, assimilate God's Word, and stay close to Jesus, recognizing His sovereignty.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'If we're going to have the fear of God, it means that we must meditate upon His Word. We must assimilate His Word. We must stay with the Lord Jesus Christ.'

Trust that God may have hidden disciples who will emerge in desperate times.

Summary: Weaver encourages believers not to despair, as God may have secret followers like Joseph and Nicodemus who will act boldly when needed.

Evidence: He states, 'God kept those men behind the scenes until they were needed. And then they came out boldly and brazenly and courageously and stood for the Lord Jesus Christ.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T16:45:38Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T07:53:58Z

Clean Transcript

Overcoming The Fear Of The Jews

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

To the book of Mark, Mark chapter 15, Mark 15, and we're going to be reading verses 42 and 43. Now this is going to be the second part of the message that I began last week. I will take time to review, especially for Francis and Van who are not here. And I trust that you'll be able to follow very easily today. Look in Mark chapter 15 and notice if you would please verses 42 and 43.
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The scripture says, "And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, 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." Last week, I preached a message which I entitled, "For Fear of the Jews." And I'm going to take a few moments and review that momentarily. Today, the message is entitled, "Overcoming the Fear of the Jews." So last week, as I pointed out the fact, in the scripture over and over, the Bible talks about "for fear of the Jews."
#2 | 0:50 to 1:34 | cleaned
This phrase has many implications. I also reminded you that years ago I preached a six-part series on "Who Is Israel" and then later on another five-part series on "Jews, Judaism and Christianity." And I encourage each one of you, if you've heard those messages, wonderful, but listen to them. If you haven't heard them, please do so. I'm going to give a quote or two just from those messages in order to try to catch us up. But may I point out that the very first time the word "Jews" occurs in our King James Bible you will find it in 2 Kings chapter 16 and verse 6. There the Bible says, "At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drove the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day." Now, when it says he drove the Jews from Elath, that is, he drove away the Judeans. The Judeans were from the southern kingdom. And here it is called the Jews. So you have to remember, in Israel, there were two kingdoms.
#3 | 1:35 to 2:46 | cleaned
There was the northern kingdom. There was a southern kingdom. And the southern kingdom, of course, contained the tribe of Judah, particularly. Also, it contained the tribes of Benjamin and Simeon as well. But the word "Jews" is used both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament in different ways. For instance, in the Old Testament the Hebrew word is Yehudi and it literally refers to someone who is a Judahite or a descendant of Judah. It is also used in the Bible six ways. Number one, to describe a person or persons from the tribe of Judah. Number two, it describes the kingdom of Judah. Number three, the land of Judah or Judea. Number four, the nation of Judah. Number five, the house of Judah, which would refer to anyone belonging to the kingdom, the house, the tribe, the nation of Judah. And then lastly, it refers to the religion of the Jews in the New Testament.
#4 | 2:47 to 3:50 | cleaned
The Greek word is Ioudaios, and it just simply means a Judean. So when you see the word in the New Testament or in the Old Testament, particularly, it refers to someone who is associated with or connected with the land of Judea or the nation of Judah or from the tribe of Judah. When you get to the New Testament, it refers more to the religion. That's why the Apostle Paul said that he prospered in the Jews' religion above many of his equals. And then of course in Galatians chapter 1 he talks about the religion of the Jews twice. And I ask this question, have you ever noticed that today when someone says anything about the Jews, whether it's deserving or not is immaterial, you're very quickly labeled as anti-Semitic. Most people have never understood what that term actually means.
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I want to give you a definition from the Oxford Dictionary, the Oxford English Dictionary, and I want you to listen to what it says. Here it defines Semite: "a member of any of the peoples who speak or spoke a Semitic language, including in particular Jews and Arabs," the Arabian people or Semitic people as well. Then it goes on to say this: the word derives from the modern Latin Semita through the late Latin from Greek Sēm, or Shem, the son of Noah in the Bible from whom these peoples were traditionally supposed to be descended. So when you get to Genesis chapter 11 you see there the genealogy relating to Shem. And you read right on down and you find that Abraham is in the descendants of Shem. Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
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And everything comes through Shem as far as the line of the Messiah is concerned. And interestingly enough, when you talk about Semites or Shemites, you have to remember that Abraham not only had Isaac with Sarah, he also had Ishmael with Hagar. Hence the Arabians. And if you look very quickly in your Bibles to the book of Genesis chapter 25, you will find that Abraham produced an awful lot of seed. Because after Sarah died, he took another wife. Her name was Keturah. And if you'll note what the Bible says, beginning with verse 1 of Genesis 25, "Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah." And then you read verses 3 and 4 and 5, and then you find some of the grandchildren of some of these children. So, obviously now you're going to have more Semites because they are through the loins of Abraham.
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Now, I pointed out that usually you have to understand that when you hear the term "Jews," especially in the Old Testament, it referred to those who were in the Southern Kingdom. Let me say this again. I've already said it: in the southern kingdom, you had the tribe of Judah. You also had the tribe of Benjamin. You also had the tribe of Simeon. And although Benjamin and Simeon had their inheritance in Judea, they maintained their tribal identity. I want you to turn to the book of Romans chapter 11 and let me show you something. If you turn there, I'm going to try to explain what I just said after I read this passage. If you look in Romans chapter 11 and verse 1, the Apostle Paul in referring to himself, after he asked this question, he says, "I say then, Hath God cast away his people?" Then he says, "God forbid." And watch this explanation. He said, "For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin." So Paul now is claiming to be an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. Well, I suppose he could have also said that he was a
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Judean because you remember that Benjamin had his inheritance in the land of Judea. Okay? But he says, "Here I am, I'm a Benjamite." Now, the point I'm trying to make right here is very simple. I could say that we are all Southerners, well except for one of us here. I could say that we're all Southerners. When I talk about Southerners, we could talk about Georgia, we talk about North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, we can talk about all of it, Missouri. And I could say, well all of these people are Southerners, but although we are all Southerners we would be Georgians or Floridians. You understand what I'm saying?
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So this is the way it was in those days. They may have been Judeans in the sense that they had their inheritance there, but they were Benjamites. They were Simeonites. They just happened to live in that land. They kept their tribal identity per se. Now, the point that I made last week: when you see the word or the term or the phrase "the Jews," which I'm going to show you many times in the New Testament, it does not even refer to all the Judeans. It does not refer to all of those who lived in the southern kingdom. It does not refer to all of those who are the tribe of Judah. It refers mainly to what you and I would call the ruling elite in those days. And you remember the ruling elite had to be and was the Sadducees and the Pharisees.
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I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of John. Let me just give you a quick review. Look in the book of John, chapter 9, if you would. This is where Jesus Christ had healed the man that had been born blind. Of course I went over this last week. I'm not going to read the entire passage. But if you look in John 9 in verse 22, here is what the parents said to the Jews. Watch carefully these words: "These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews." Whoa, wait a minute. They were Judeans themselves. Now it says they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, "He is of age; ask him." So what Jews had agreed already? Those who were in control. Those who had the power and authority to ostracize and excommunicate and kick someone out of the synagogue. If you look in the book of John chapter 20—and we're coming back to John 12—
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but look in John 20 and verse 19 and I'll explain this verse momentarily in light of some other verses. So look in John 20 and verse 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." So the disciples were meeting behind closed doors, probably locked doors. Why? The Bible says "for fear of the Jews."
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Well, they were not afraid of every Judean. They were afraid of the ruling elite because of their power and their authority. So, if you look back in your Bibles now to the book of John chapter 12, John chapter 12, and notice if you would please verse 42. We'll come back to this verse a little bit later anyhow. John 12 verse 42, "Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue." Wow. So even some of the chief rulers who were part and parcel of the Pharisees would not confess Christ lest they be kicked out by the others. And now you have to remember that the Pharisees had control of the people, the general populace, the synagogues. The Sadducees had control of the temple. Now interestingly enough the Sadducees and the Pharisees not only had some religious authority and religious power, they also had some civil power and criminal power, that is to arrest criminals. If you would look in your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 5 and let's begin there with verse 18.
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In fact, let's read verse 17 just so you can see the context. Acts chapter 5 verse 17, the Bible says, "Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation." So what did they do? They were filled with indignation against the apostles, "and laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison." So evidently they either had power to incarcerate or authority to incarcerate or they were very closely connected to someone who did. If you would look in the book of Acts chapter 8, you remember Saul of Tarsus before he was saved and became the mighty Apostle Paul. The Bible says this, "And as for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison." You remember Paul was a Pharisee. In fact, he identified himself as a Pharisee of the Pharisees. So here is a Pharisee hauling men and women off to prison. Then if you look in Acts chapter 26 at the testimony that the Apostle Paul gave, notice what he said in Acts chapter 26 and verse 10. Acts 26 and verse 10.
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He's giving his testimony before King Agrippa and he says this: "Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities."
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Now I want you to notice verse 10 if you would. Here the Apostle Paul says, before his conversion, he shut up many of the saints in prison. Then he says this, "having received authority from the chief priests." In other words, they're the ones that sanctioned it. And when they, that is plural, when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. It was not just that he was consenting to the death of Stephen, he did so in Acts chapter 6, but evidently there were many more as well.
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So here you find the power of this ruling elite, the power of the Jews. Now you have to remember again, let me repeat it, that the Pharisees had control of the populace because of the synagogue. But the Sadducees had control over the temple because it was from the Sadducees that you had the priestly order. It was both the Pharisees and the Sadducees that made up the Sanhedrin which was the ruling court. Now during the time of the Romans, and especially the Roman governors like Pontius Pilate, the Sanhedrin only had jurisdiction in the province of Judea. The Sanhedrin had its own police force.
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It had civil authority and criminal authority as well. However, in the New Testament, under the Romans, although they could arrest and although they could condemn, they could not execute. It was the Sanhedrin that condemned Jesus Christ. The Romans reserved to themselves the right to execute. Hence Jesus Christ was crucified, which is a Roman death, and not stoned to death, which was an Israelite or a Mosaic death. Because at that particular time although they could condemn, they certainly did not have the power to execute; the Romans had taken that away from them. Now if you go back to John chapter 18—and by the way, you remember when Jesus Christ was standing before Pilate and Pilate asked, "Whom shall I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus?" and of course they all hollered for Barabbas. And why?
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"What evil hath he done?" What did they say? They said, "We have a law, and by our law he ought to die." But they did not have the power to execute him. So if you look in John chapter 18, look there if you would beginning in verse 12. Just to show you that they had the power to arrest. "Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews"—not all the Judeans, but the ruling elite—"took Jesus, and bound him, and led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year." Note, if you would, "then the band," that is the men that were with them, "and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus."
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So the Sanhedrin, and the Sadducees and the Pharisees were notoriously corrupt. They were not only corrupt, they were tyrannical. They were despotic. You either agreed with them or submitted to them or else you were ostracized, excommunicated, imprisoned or executed. They considered themselves above the law. Much like our government and like our politicians today, they could do whatever they thought they wanted to do. To show you how corrupt they were, you must remember when these individuals came to John's baptism in Matthew 3 and verse 7, he said to them, "O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" So he called them a bunch of vipers. And then when you get to Matthew chapter 23 and verse 33, Jesus Christ said to them, "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?" So our Lord said they were not only serpents and vipers but that they were doomed and damned and they could not escape the damnation of hell, because they were so exceedingly corrupt.
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Now, therefore, because of their corruption, there were a lot of people that feared their authority and their power. It was usurped authority most of the time, and it was corrupt power most of the time, because these people basically did as they pleased. So if you'll go back to John chapter 12 very quickly and look at this in light of what I just shared with you. John chapter 12 beginning there with verse 42. John 12 verse 42.
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Now you're going to see what I'm talking about. John 12 verse 42: "Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." So here you had all of these corrupt individuals. However, there were exceptions. One of the exceptions happened to be a man by the name of Joseph of Arimathea. The Bible tells us he was a rich man. He was an honorable man. He was a counselor.
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He was a secret disciple. The Bible tells us that he waited for the kingdom of God. But you're going to ask this question: Why was Joseph of Arimathea a secret disciple? And here's the answer: for fear of the Jews. I want to show you something that may astound you. It may amaze you. I want you to turn in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 27. I want to show you four passages concerning Joseph of Arimathea. And as you understand who this man was, you're going to understand the power and the influence that the Jews had. Notice, if you would please, in Matthew chapter 27, beginning there with verse 57. The Bible says, "When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth."
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Now, verse 60 he said, "And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed." Note if you would, first of all we are told that Joseph was a rich man of Arimathea. We're also told that he was Jesus' disciple. We're also told that he went in and begged the body of Jesus Christ. Now look if you would please in the book of Mark chapter 15 and notice if you would verses 42 and 43. This was our text, but I want to point some things out as we read about Joseph. Mark chapter 15 verse 42: "And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, 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." Now we're told that Joseph was an honorable counselor. We're told that he waited for the kingdom of God. We're also told that he went in boldly unto Pilate and craved the body of Jesus.
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The interesting thing is this: when the Bible says in verse 43 that he was an honorable counselor, the word "counselor" refers to a senator. In other words, Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin. Let me show you. Look in your Bibles to Luke chapter 23. Luke chapter 23 beginning there with verse 50. Luke 23 verse 50, read what is said about Joseph: "And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just." Are you ready?
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"(The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;)" that is the rest of the Sanhedrin. "He was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus." So here is Joseph of Arimathea, who is in the Sanhedrin himself, who is a secret disciple. And the reason he has not made known his faith is for fear of these Jews who had control
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of the temple and the synagogue and the people. Now, if you would turn right over to the book of John, chapter 19, and look in verse 38. John 19, verse 38. Here it is spelled out in black and white for you: "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." So
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here was a man who was rich, who was honorable, who was a secret disciple of Jesus Christ, who waited for the kingdom of God, who had power and authority himself and was a member of the Sanhedrin, and yet he still feared the Jews, that is the rest of those who were in the Sanhedrin. And when Jesus Christ was tried and condemned, he did not consent with their verdict and he did not consent with their deed.
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Now I want you to note something. The Bible tells us it was this man that went in and boldly asked for the body of the Lord Jesus Christ. So let me ask you a question. Where were the 12 disciples? Where were the 12 apostles? Judas had hanged himself. And the Bible also tells us in Mark 14 in verse 50 that when they took Jesus, the rest of the disciples forsook Him and fled.
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As far as I can tell there was only one of the original 12 at the crucifixion and that was John. If you look back in your Bibles to the book of John chapter 19 beginning there with verse 25, John 19 verse 25: "Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved"—that's John—"he 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." So here is John standing there and our Lord commits his mother into the hands of the Apostle John. There was one other that may or may not have been there.
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I would probably say not, but it would be a matter of interpretation when you get to 1 Peter chapter 5 and verse 2 and Peter also says there that he was an eyewitness to his sufferings. Well, you can be an eyewitness to the sufferings without being an eyewitness to all of the sufferings. Certainly Peter was in the garden when he prayed and sweat great drops of sweat as blood, and Peter was with him when they came to arrest him, for it was Peter who cut off Malchus's ear with a sword. And certainly Peter was there at the hall of judgment because it was there that he denied the Lord three times. So just how far you can interpret what he said about being an eyewitness to the sufferings of Christ, he may have been hiding somewhere beholding afar off. I don't know, but the Bible just simply says that he was there. Now when all the disciples did get back together after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, if you'll go back to verse 19 of John chapter 20, and I've already read it, but let me point it out again. This is after the
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death of Jesus Christ. "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." Now, I want to just try to emphasize something for you. I want to emphasize for you the great bravery and courage that was exhibited by Joseph of Arimathea. We may not think too much of it today, but it took a great deal of courage.
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I want to give you three quotes, one is going to be from John Chrysostom who was an early Church father, then from Albert Barnes, and then from Adam Clarke. Chrysostom says this: "The courage of Joseph is greatly to be admired, in that for the love of Christ he exposed himself to the danger of death." Now, how in the world could Joseph then be exposing himself to the danger of death? Well, listen to what Albert Barnes writes. He says, "God had raised up this distinguished counsellor and secret disciple for a special and most important vocation.
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The disciples of Jesus had fled, and if they had not, they had no influence with Pilate. Unless there had been a special application to Pilate in behalf of Jesus, his body would have been buried that night in the common grave with the malefactors. For it was the law of the Jews that the body of an executed man could not remain on the cross on the Sabbath. At this critical juncture, God called forward this secret disciple, this friend of Jesus, though unknown as such to the world, and gave him confidence. He dared to express sympathy for the Saviour. He went in boldly and begged the body of Jesus."
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"It needed no small measure of courage to do this. Jesus had just been condemned, mocked, spit upon, crucified—the death of a slave and of the most guilty wretch. To avow attachment for Him now was proof of sincere affection. And the Holy Spirit has thought this worthy of special notice, and has set down this bold attachment of a senator for Jesus for our imitation." So stop and think about this. It's going to get a little better just for a moment, but stop and think about it. Jesus Christ had already been condemned. He'd been mocked. He'd been spit upon. He'd been crucified. And now Joseph goes in and says, "I want his body." And he doesn't go into a funeral home. He goes to Pilate, the man who had him sentenced to death. Adam Clarke says it like this—now put two and two together when you hear this.
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"He who was a coward before, now acts a more open, fearless part than any of the disciples of our Lord. This the Holy Spirit has thought worthy of a special notice. It needed no small measure of courage to declare now for Jesus, who had been a few hours ago condemned as a blasphemer by the Jews and as a seditious person by the Romans. And this was the more remarkable in Joseph, because hitherto for fear of the Jews he'd been only a secret disciple of our Lord." Now listen: "He who was a coward before, now acts a more open, fearless part than any of the disciples of our Lord." The providence of God has a way of bringing his followers to light even in the face of death and condemnation. So here's Joseph. Jesus Christ has just been crucified as a blasphemer by the Jews and a seditious person by the Romans. And now he goes in and says, "I want the body of Jesus Christ." He's identifying himself as a follower of Jesus Christ, by the way. Here's a good question: Do you know who provided all the spices for the burial of Jesus Christ?
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Nicodemus, another secret disciple. Look in John 19 verse 39. Here it is, John 19 verse 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." Wow. So here we have two secret disciples that are now boldly coming out, confessing and acknowledging Jesus Christ. Now I want you to go back to Mark chapter 15. I want to show you something. Here's a word that's very interesting. Mark 15, if you will notice verse 43. The Bible says, "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." The word "boldly" there is the Greek word tolmaō, and it means extreme conduct.
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I don't know how I can put this in words. It means that Joseph was courageous. He was bold. He was daring. He was brazen. Yeah, he may have been asking, but it was almost more like demanding: "I want the body of Jesus Christ." And when Pilate had inquired and found out he was already dead, he allowed him to have the body. So I have a question for you.
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What do you think made the difference? Now, since Joseph of Arimathea is willingly, openly, boldly and defiantly identifying himself as a follower of Jesus Christ, when before he kept silence for fear of the Jews, what do you think made the difference in Joseph's life? Well, you have to remember that as a member of the Sanhedrin he undoubtedly was an eyewitness to the trial of Jesus Christ. So he had firsthand information.
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He knew exactly what had happened. He was a witness to the proceedings. We are told in Luke chapter 23 that he had not consented to the counsel and deed of them. In other words, he was not willing to condemn Jesus Christ because he was a secret believer. But now Jesus Christ has been condemned. Now Jesus Christ has been sentenced to death. Now Jesus Christ has been crucified. And so there came a time for Joseph when he understood it is now or never. And I will acknowledge him. I will confess him. Now is the time. And I will tell you what I honestly believe brought Joseph to this point. I believe he understood the sacrificial and substitutionary death of Jesus Christ.
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Because you remember he was an honorable counselor. He waited for the Kingdom of God. That is, he had to have known the Old Testament Scriptures and he understood that all of those lambs that were sacrificed in the Old Testament could never take away sin. They could never cover sin. They were just a picture. They were a type, an emblem of the one who could take away sin. And you remember that John the Baptist had already identified Jesus Christ as "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." And so I believe that Joseph probably at this moment grasped and understood the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ. So for Joseph then it was not the end. It could not be the end because he believed that Jesus Christ was not only the king of Israel and the King of the Jews, quote unquote. He believed that Jesus Christ was King of Kings and Lord of Lords and God of Gods. And it did not matter if he had been crucified and it did not matter if it appeared as if his kingdom had been crushed and everything was gone and done away with.
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No, no, no. He's still now going to admit and confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord. You remember that passage in Mark 8, verse 38? where our Lord said, "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." So Joseph got to the point that he said, "I'm not going to be ashamed of him." Now this act of Joseph going into Pilate undoubtedly is going to identify him completely as a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. While he was alive, he may have admired him and followed him secretly from a distance. He may have refused to condemn him. But now he's not only refusing to condemn him, he's now espousing his cause at what you and I would call the worst most possible time, because Jesus Christ had not yet been resurrected.
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And you would think that it's all over. So we can see then what gave Joseph a little courage and boldness. And undoubtedly God had a special calling upon him for this. But here's my other question. There was a transformation in the lives of the other apostles. What made the difference in their lives? Remember, when Jesus Christ was arrested, they all forsook him and fled. When they got back together after his crucifixion, they were behind closed doors for fear of the Jews.
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They were afraid of the ruling elite. They were afraid of the power and the authority of the Jews. So what made the difference? Well, let me show you. Let's look at our Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 4. Acts chapter 4. Acts chapter 4 and let's begin reading there with verse 5. Acts 4 and verse 5. And we'll certainly go down and read through verse 13. This is where the disciples had healed a lame man and watch what happens. Acts 4 verse 5: "And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes"—now, I hope you're beginning to see the Jews, the ruling elite—"and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred
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of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem." It was a clique. It was a corrupt cabal. Here were the rulers, here were the Jews. Watch verse 7: "And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?" How did you heal this man? "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
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This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
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Now, when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. Now, let me just stop. You remember in Acts chapter 1, our Lord told his disciples, "But tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." In Acts chapter 2, the Holy Ghost came upon them and they began to witness and they began to preach and teach.
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And now they've been arrested. They've been called to account for healing this man. And what does Peter say? "You rulers, you wicked men, you have taken the Lord Jesus Christ and crucified him. This was your responsibility; you killed him, but God raised him from the dead. And it's through this man and through his power that this impotent man is now made whole. Be it known unto you, you listen to us." And notice if you would the last verse that I read: "And they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." What was it that gave these disciples a holy boldness? It was not just the Holy Spirit. Certainly it was him. But they were with the Lord Jesus Christ. Let me tell you something.
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There's a passage in Mark chapter 3 verses 13 and 14 where Jesus calls his disciples. And in that passage the Bible says this: "He goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would." So he sovereignly selects his disciples. He calls unto himself whom he would. And the next verse says this: "And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach." I want you to note: sending them forth to preach the gospel is secondary. Being with him is primary. So they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus. Now since we're in Acts 4, let's go down to verse 23. They've already been arrested, thrown in prison, got out. I want you to watch this. Acts chapter 4 verse 23: "And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
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And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness."
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Wow. I wonder why we've lost the boldness in our day and age. And the answer is because we've never asked the Lord for holy boldness. We never continued in abiding with the Lord in order to receive holy boldness. So here's a good question. Have you ever asked the Lord for holy boldness? Have you ever asked the Lord to make you a witness and to make you a testimony in the face of tyranny and wickedness and despotism? Have you ever asked the Lord to use you to confront evil and wickedness? Have you ever asked the Lord to make you an example in your Christian walk?
#51 | 47:01 to 47:53 | cleaned
I'm gonna tell you something. I believe the time basically has come that we need a holy boldness. We need to stand for Jesus Christ like we've never stood for Jesus Christ before. You look at all the wickedness that is prevalent today. You look at humanism. You look at corruption. You look at the perversions. You look at all the filth that is going on. You look how America has sunk. You look as the Christian church has gone down. You look how Christians have gone down. Look how families have gone down.
#52 | 47:54 to 48:32 | cleaned
The truth is, we better get our act together. And by the way, religious tyranny is just as bad as civil tyranny. Wickedness in the church is just as awful and just as corrupt as wickedness in civil government. And when we sit silently and say nothing and do nothing, it is to sin by consent. Let me show you. I want you to turn in your Bibles to Psalm 50. Psalm 50. Psalm 50 and let's begin reading there with verse 16. Psalm 50 verse 16. Look what God says: "But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee." Let me just make an application. To the wicked God says, "What hast thou to do to declare my statutes? Or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee."
#53 | 48:37 to 50:00 | cleaned
I remember there had been a number of people ask me from time to time, "Well, have you heard Elvis Presley sing this beautiful hymn?" And my response would be, "No, and neither do I want to hear him." Why would I want to hear an ungodly man try to sing a godly hymn? Stop and think about that. Why would I want to hear an ungodly man try to mimic, proclaim the Word of God? God said you have no right to do that. You look around. We haven't had TV in years and I always hated when they would always have these movie stars would always have these Christmas specials. And they would have all these songs and at the end they had to have one hymn and all of them come together and then I think, why would you do that? I mean everything else is corrupt. But anyhow, this is what God said. "What hast thou to do to take my word in thy mouth?" You hate instruction. You won't listen. You won't live it. You won't receive it. Now look what he says in verse 18: "When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers."
#54 | 50:02 to 51:25 | cleaned
"Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes."
#55 | 51:25 to 51:44 | cleaned
"Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver." Now go back to verse 18: "When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers." What does he mean? When you saw a thief, you consented with him. You didn't say anything. You didn't rebuke him. You didn't try to stop him. When you silently sit there and let someone sin, God says that's approval. You've been partakers with adultery. Why? You don't disavow it. You don't rebuke it. You consent to it. To consent is to sin by silence.
#56 | 51:44 to 52:22 | cleaned
So this is what I'm trying to tell you today, folks. There is a time, I believe, for holy boldness. And that holy boldness is needed and necessary today in light of all the sin and wickedness that is prevalent on every hand. I hope you've noticed just a couple of things by way of application. The first one is this: it takes the fear of God to overcome the fear of man. It takes the fear of God to overcome the fear of man. What happened to Joseph of Arimathea? What happened in Nicodemus? What happened to the Apostles? They came to the realization that God is sovereign and that they should fear Him and fear Him alone. I quoted last week Proverbs 29 verse 25, "The fear of man bringeth a snare."
#57 | 52:24 to 53:14 | cleaned
"But whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe." And the fear of man does indeed bring a snare. And if we're going to have the fear of God, it means that we must meditate upon His Word. We must assimilate His Word. We must stay with the Lord Jesus Christ. We must abide with Him. We must be with Him. And we must understand that He alone is to be feared. There's this—it's encouraging in one sense of the word. I think there's another application. And I think that application is this: there are probably people who are believers in Jesus Christ that you and I would never ever think about being believers in Jesus Christ. Who would have ever thought Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Sanhedrin, would be a secret disciple of Jesus Christ? How about Nicodemus? But you know what God did?
#58 | 53:14 to 54:14 | cleaned
God kept those men behind the scenes until they were needed. And then they came out boldly and brazenly and courageously and stood for the Lord Jesus Christ. So it is encouraging in one sense of the word. When you stop and think about this, well I know there are brethren who will stand with me, but there are brethren who will probably stand even more so that we do not even know about, or whom we would not even consider as being Christians.
#59 | 54:15 to 54:54 | cleaned
I would imagine Joseph of Arimathea would have been under suspicion just by being a member of the Sanhedrin. Wow! God uses heroic men in desperate times. And at the crucifixion of our Lord, it was a desperate time. And God sovereignly called forth Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. And after the resurrection, he gave those apostles power that they might be bold in the name of Jesus Christ. And that's what we need. We need to learn to ask the Lord for holy boldness, that we may proclaim his word and stand for his truth. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to you this day. We thank you for your word. We ask for holiness. We ask for boldness. We ask for grace and mercy,
#60 | 54:56 to 56:00 | cleaned
that we may serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. In Thy name we pray. Amen.
#61 | 56:01 to 56:07 | cleaned
you you
#62 | 56:30 to 56:31 | cleaned

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T16:45:38Z

Overcoming The Fear Of The Jews

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

Pastor John Weaver continues his two-part message on the fear of the Jews, focusing on how Joseph of Arimathea and the apostles overcame that fear through holy boldness. He reviews the identity of 'the Jews' as the ruling elite (Sadducees and Pharisees) who held religious and civil power, and explains that Joseph, a secret disciple and member of the Sanhedrin, boldly requested Jesus' body after the crucifixion. The sermon emphasizes that the fear of God overcomes the fear of man, and that believers today need to ask God for holy boldness to stand for truth in the face of tyranny and wickedness.

Introduction and Review of 'For Fear of the Jews'

Weaver introduces the second part of his message, reviewing the biblical phrase 'for fear of the Jews' and its implications, and encourages listeners to study his prior series on Israel and Judaism.

Scripture Reading — Mark 15:42-43

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

Defining 'the Jews' in Scripture

Scripture Reading — Genesis 25:1-5

"Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah."

The Power and Corruption of the Ruling Elite

Weaver details the authority of the Sanhedrin, Sadducees, and Pharisees, including their power to arrest, imprison, and excommunicate, and their corruption as described by John the Baptist and Jesus.

Scripture Reading — John 9:22

"These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews."

In fact, let's read verse 17 just so you can see the context. Acts chapter 5 verse 17, the Bible says,

Scripture Reading — Acts 5:17-18

"Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation."

So what did they do? They were filled with indignation against the apostles,

Scripture Reading — Acts 5:17-18

"and laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison."

He's giving his testimony before King Agrippa and he says this:

Scripture Reading — Acts 26:10-11

"Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities."

Now I want you to notice verse 10 if you would. Here the Apostle Paul says, before his conversion, he shut up many of the saints in prison. Then he says this,

Scripture Reading — Acts 26:10-11

"having received authority from the chief priests."

Now you're going to see what I'm talking about. John 12 verse 42:

Scripture Reading — John 12:42-43

"Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."

Joseph of Arimathea: A Secret Disciple

Now you're going to see what I'm talking about. John 12 verse 42:

Scripture Reading — John 12:42-43

"Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."

Scripture Reading — Luke 23:50-52

"(The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;)"

that is the rest of the Sanhedrin.

Scripture Reading — Luke 23:50-52

"He was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus."

So here is Joseph of Arimathea, who is in the Sanhedrin himself, who is a secret disciple. And the reason he has not made known his faith is for fear of these Jews who had control

Scripture Reading — John 19:38

"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."

Joseph's Boldness at the Crucifixion

Weaver highlights Joseph's courageous act of boldly asking Pilate for Jesus' body, contrasting it with the disciples' fear, and cites early church commentators on the significance of this bravery.

The Transformation of the Apostles

He explains that the apostles' fear was overcome by being with Jesus and being filled with the Holy Spirit, leading to their boldness before the Sanhedrin in Acts 4.

The Need for Holy Boldness Today

Weaver applies the lesson to contemporary believers, urging them to ask God for holy boldness to confront evil and not sin by silent consent, citing Psalm 50.

Conclusion and Prayer

He concludes that God raises heroic men in desperate times, encourages believers to seek holy boldness, and closes in prayer for grace to serve God with reverence and godly fear.

that we may serve Thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. In Thy name we pray. Amen.

Overcoming The Fear Of The Jews

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	xtLvHRX-Kv0
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Genesis: Abraham, Covenant, and Promise
Genre	Sermon
Date	2018-10-01
Dictation Name
Book	Book 075: Genesis — Chapter 13
Source Timed Segments	62

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Review of 'For Fear of the Jews': Weaver introduces the second part of his message, reviewing the biblical phrase 'for fear of the Jews' and its implications, and encourages listeners to study his prior series on Israel and Judaism.
Defining 'the Jews' in Scripture: He explains that 'Jews' in the Old Testament refers to Judeans or descendants of Judah, and in the New Testament often denotes the ruling elite—Sadducees and Pharisees—who held religious and civil authority.
The Power and Corruption of the Ruling Elite: Weaver details the authority of the Sanhedrin, Sadducees, and Pharisees, including their power to arrest, imprison, and excommunicate, and their corruption as described by John the Baptist and Jesus.
Joseph of Arimathea: A Secret Disciple: Examining the four Gospel accounts, Weaver shows that Joseph was a rich, honorable counselor and member of the Sanhedrin who was a secret disciple for fear of the Jews, yet did not consent to Jesus' condemnation.
Joseph's Boldness at the Crucifixion: Weaver highlights Joseph's courageous act of boldly asking Pilate for Jesus' body, contrasting it with the disciples' fear, and cites early church commentators on the significance of this bravery.
The Transformation of the Apostles: He explains that the apostles' fear was overcome by being with Jesus and being filled with the Holy Spirit, leading to their boldness before the Sanhedrin in Acts 4.
The Need for Holy Boldness Today: Weaver applies the lesson to contemporary believers, urging them to ask God for holy boldness to confront evil and not sin by silent consent, citing Psalm 50.
Conclusion and Prayer: He concludes that God raises heroic men in desperate times, encourages believers to seek holy boldness, and closes in prayer for grace to serve God with reverence and godly fear.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Joseph of Arimathea's boldness was a direct result of understanding Christ's substitutionary death.

Weaver argues that Joseph, as a counselor who waited for the kingdom, understood the Old Testament sacrifices and recognized Jesus as the Lamb of God, which compelled him to publicly identify with Christ even at the worst possible time.

Weaver says, 'I believe he understood the sacrificial and substitutionary death of Jesus Christ... Joseph probably at this moment grasped and understood the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ.'

The apostles' transformation from fear to boldness came from being with Jesus and being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Weaver contends that the disciples' boldness in Acts 4 was not merely the result of the Spirit's filling but also because they had been with Jesus, as the Sanhedrin recognized, and because they prayed for boldness.

He cites Acts 4:13, 'they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus,' and the prayer in Acts 4:29-31 where they asked for boldness and were filled with the Holy Ghost.

The term 'Jews' in the New Testament often denotes the corrupt ruling elite, not all Judeans.

Weaver argues that 'the Jews' who were feared were specifically the Sadducees and Pharisees who controlled the temple, synagogues, and Sanhedrin, and that this distinction is crucial for understanding passages about fear of the Jews.

He explains that in John 9:22 the parents feared 'the Jews' who had agreed to excommunicate confessors of Christ, and that these were the ruling elite, not all Judeans.

Silence in the face of wickedness is sin by consent.

Weaver argues from Psalm 50:18 that when believers see evil and do not speak out or rebuke it, they are consenting to it and become partakers in that sin.

He reads Psalm 50:18 and states, 'When you saw a thief, you consented with him. You didn't say anything... When you silently sit there and let someone sin, God says that's approval.'

Scripture References

Mark 15:42-43: The primary text for the sermon, describing Joseph of Arimathea boldly asking Pilate for Jesus' body.
2 Kings 16:6: The first occurrence of the word 'Jews' in the King James Bible, referring to Judeans being driven from Elath.
Genesis 25:1-5: Abraham's descendants through Keturah, showing that Semites include more than just the line of Isaac.
Romans 11:1: Paul identifies as an Israelite of the tribe of Benjamin, illustrating tribal identity within Judea.
John 9:22: The parents of the healed blind man feared the Jews because they had agreed to excommunicate anyone confessing Christ.
John 20:19: The disciples met behind closed doors for fear of the Jews after the crucifixion.
John 12:42-43: Many chief rulers believed but did not confess Christ for fear of the Pharisees and love of men's praise.
Acts 5:17-18: The high priest and Sadducees arrested the apostles and put them in prison.
Acts 8:3: Saul (a Pharisee) made havoc of the church, hauling men and women to prison.
Acts 26:10-11: Paul testifies that he received authority from the chief priests to imprison and punish saints.
Matthew 3:7: John the Baptist called the Pharisees and Sadducees a 'generation of vipers.'
Matthew 23:33: Jesus called the scribes and Pharisees serpents and vipers, asking how they could escape hell's damnation.
Matthew 27:57-60: Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man and disciple, asked Pilate for Jesus' body and buried it in his own tomb.
Luke 23:50-52: Joseph, a counselor and good man, did not consent to the Sanhedrin's decision and begged Jesus' body.
John 19:38: Joseph of Arimathea, a secret disciple for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate for Jesus' body.
John 19:25-27: John was present at the crucifixion, and Jesus committed his mother to John's care.
John 19:39: Nicodemus brought a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes for Jesus' burial.
Mark 8:38: Jesus warns that whoever is ashamed of Him in this adulterous generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them.
Acts 4:5-13: Peter and John boldly testified before the Sanhedrin, and the rulers recognized they had been with Jesus.
Psalm 50:16-22: God rebukes the wicked for declaring His statutes while hating instruction, and warns that seeing a thief and remaining silent is consent.

Historical References

John Chrysostom (early Church father): Weaver quotes Chrysostom: 'The courage of Joseph is greatly to be admired, in that for the love of Christ he exposed himself to the danger of death.'
Albert Barnes (19th-century theologian): Weaver quotes Barnes on God raising up Joseph as a secret disciple for the special vocation of burying Jesus, noting the courage needed.
Adam Clarke (18th-century theologian): Weaver quotes Clarke: 'He who was a coward before, now acts a more open, fearless part than any of the disciples of our Lord.'
Sanhedrin: The Jewish ruling council during the Roman period, composed of Sadducees and Pharisees, with civil and criminal authority but limited power of execution under Roman rule.
Roman governance in Judea: Weaver explains that the Romans reserved the right of execution, which is why Jesus was crucified (a Roman death) rather than stoned (a Mosaic death).

Important Quotes

The courage of Joseph is greatly to be admired, in that for the love of Christ he exposed himself to the danger of death.

This quote from Chrysostom highlights the extreme risk Joseph took by identifying with Christ after the crucifixion, emphasizing the theme of holy boldness.

He who was a coward before, now acts a more open, fearless part than any of the disciples of our Lord.

Adam Clarke's observation underscores the transformation in Joseph from secret disciple to bold confessor, serving as a model for overcoming fear.

It takes the fear of God to overcome the fear of man.

This concise statement captures the central application of the sermon: that reverential awe of God is the antidote to the paralyzing fear of human authority.

When you silently sit there and let someone sin, God says that's approval. You've been partakers with adultery. Why? You don't disavow it. You don't rebuke it. You consent to it. To consent is to sin by silence.

Weaver's explanation of Psalm 50:18 drives home the urgent need for believers to speak out against evil rather than remain passive.

God kept those men behind the scenes until they were needed. And then they came out boldly and brazenly and courageously and stood for the Lord Jesus Christ.

This insight encourages believers that God may have hidden disciples who will emerge at critical moments, reinforcing the theme of divine sovereignty.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

In what ways does the fear of man manifest in our lives today, and how can we cultivate the fear of God to overcome it?

[Context]

Weaver emphasizes that the fear of God is the antidote to the fear of man, citing Proverbs 29:25.

[Question]

How does understanding the identity of 'the Jews' as the ruling elite change our reading of New Testament passages about fear and persecution?

[Context]

Weaver explains that 'the Jews' often refers to the Sadducees and Pharisees, not all Judeans.

[Question]

What can we learn from Joseph of Arimathea's example about the timing and manner of publicly identifying with Christ?

[Context]

Joseph was a secret disciple until the crucifixion, when he boldly asked for Jesus' body.

[Question]

Why is silence in the face of evil considered consent according to Psalm 50, and what are practical ways we can avoid this sin?

[Context]

Weaver warns that not rebuking sin is to consent to it, using Psalm 50:18.

[Question]

How did the apostles' time with Jesus and their filling with the Holy Spirit produce boldness, and how can we seek similar boldness today?

[Context]

The Sanhedrin recognized the apostles had been with Jesus, and they prayed for boldness in Acts 4.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T07:53:58Z