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. 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. (John 19:38-39)
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. (Mark 15:43)
After the cross, both Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea had a desire for Christ which overcame their fear of man. They willingly risked their exalted positions, their possessions, and even their lives to publicly identify with Jesus and His followers. They chose, “…rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.” (Hebrews 11:25)
Joseph sacrificially gave the Lord his brand new tomb and clean linens. Nicodemus gave a hundred pounds of costly ointment. Both men diligently labored over the body of Jesus preparing Him for His burial, while the two Mary’s of the Gospels watched them. The former secret disciples, Joseph and Nicodemus, desired, identified with, and served the body of Christ.
We also have an opportunity to care for the Body of Christ!
“And he is the head of the body, the church…” (Colossians 1:18a)
“For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.” (Ephesians 5:30)
“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” (I Corinthians 12:27)
“That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.” (I Corinthians 12:25)
The Church is Christ’s flock, His bride, and His body. Our relationship to Christ is reflected in our relationship to His Church. Before the Apostle Paul was converted, he persecuted the church; and ,on the Damascus Road, He heard Jesus say: “Saul, Saul why persecutest thou me? (Acts 9:4). By contrast, those that lovingly serve their brethren will hear the following at reward time in heaven: “…Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:40)
“By this shall all men know you are my disciples by your love one to another” (John 13:35)
Loving Care for Christ’s body is both commanded and commended. In the New Testament, believers are given 59 “one another” commandments (love one another, pray for one another, greet one another…), and these precepts can only be fulfilled in the context of other believers. In John 13, Jesus illustrated the mark of true discipleship when he washed His disciples’ feet and commanded them that they love each other with the same love with which He loved them. Jesus told His disciples that loving service to one another was an identifying mark of a true disciple. (John 13:13-14; 34-35)
It’s an impossibility to love Jesus, The Head, and not love the Church, His body. The Head and the Body go together. The book of 1 John teaches us this principle:
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. (I John 4:20-21)
In light of the verses from I John 4:20-21, the following statement cannot be true: “I have a personal relationship with Jesus (the Head), but I don’t have one with His Church (His body).”
Remember, there is no such thing as a perfect Church. Christ’s hand-picked group of twelve disciples had doubters, deniers, and a betrayer. The churches to whom the epistles were written all had their problems. The seven churches in Revelation had serious indictments given to them by their Head Jesus; but Christ, at no time, told the members to stop assembling. I enjoy this funny statement because it rings so true: “If you find the perfect church, don’t go there because you will mess it up!” Also remember, if your church was perfect, they wouldn’t need you!