Joseph from Arimathea was one of Jesus’ disciples. He had kept it secret though, because he was afraid of the Jewish leaders. But now he asked Pilate to let him have Jesus’ body. Pilate gave him permission, and Joseph took it down from the cross. Nicodemus also came with about seventy-five pounds of spices made from myrrh and aloes. This was the same Nicodemus who had visited Jesus one night. The two men wrapped the body in a linen cloth, together with the spices, which was how the Jewish people buried their dead.
(John 19:38-40 CEV)
Prior to Jesus’ death, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus didn’t openly support Jesus’ cause for fear that they might lose their influential positions in the religious community. However, after Jesus’ death, it’s not Jesus’ close disciples, but these two men that we see coming together to give Jesus a proper burial. It’s as if they weren’t ashamed to be known as His followers anymore. It cost them everything, but it was worth it. “I tell you,” Jesus said, “whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God” (Luke 12:8-9 NIV).
Don’t be ashamed of Jesus.
Rising with the Son 