Secret Disciples

"Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night." (John19:38)
"Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God." (Luke 23: 50,51)

Here are two people who show up at the end of all things---it seems---when all the forces of evil have succeeded. They've been a part of the establishment--the Council of the Sanhedrin. Up until now they've been a part of the inside, the ruling parties, both Pharisees, I believe. Jesus, on the other hand, had always been an outsider, the challenger of the status quo. These two had absolutely nothing to gain politically, economically or socially by asking for the body of Jesus. Up until then it appears they had been secretly at sympathy with Jesus. Indeed it says they (or at least Joseph) was secretly "a disciple," not just a sympathizer. This should astonish us.

Here Joseph and Nicodemus are deliberately associating with the losing side, like someone at the closing bell of a boxing match suddenly stands up and roots for the guy who's just been knocked out. Sure Joseph had objected to the Council's decision to have Jesus arrested and tried, but wasn't he still the loyal opposition, just the minority voice which still belongs? Didn't Joseph still drink wine with them, dress up in fine garments, and belong to the group that had Jesus killed?
It makes me wonder how he'd gotten chosen to be part of the Council. Elected by the populace of Arimathea? No, I highly doubt that. It appears he was rather wealthy. So here's a rich man, well landed, a good-ole-boy with a family that had roots and branches in Judea: a mover and a shaker. But then, somewhere at sometime he's surprised and undone by the words of a ragtag Galilean preacher from out of town. Out of town and out of touch with the powers that be. What could have been so inviting about Jesus to the likes of Joseph? He was so out of touch with power and how to win and influence those that really counted, according to the established authorities. "Turn the other cheek, give up your cloak, hate your mother and father in comparison to loving me" weren't words that would get you a seat on the Council. And saying that while kissing lepers, letting prostitutes rub your feet, and bad-mouthing the pillars of society.

But somehow Joseph and Nicodemus were drawn to him. In Secret. At night, unseen by others, Nicodemus slunk through the streets, furtively slipping behind pillars and buildings, clumps of boulders and olive trees, until he could slip into the presence of Jesus.
At night the Lord heard a hiss. A whisper. "Psstt. .... Over here." Jesus saw a shadowy robed figure out of all lamplight.

That's the setting when we first meet Nick. A secret disciple. One that follows the Light of the World while keeping in the shadows.

It makes you wonder what happened to Nick and Joe after the Resurrection. Did they ever join the Church in Jerusalem and let James be their bishop? Did they bankroll the newly founded Church, and help Peter, John and James (the Lord's brother) get the Church going in Judea?
I don't know. I don't think anyone really knows. What I want to know is: Did Nick and Joe ever stop being disciples in secret?

How can we be truly disciples and yet keep it secret? Was that really all right? When I sit down with the scriptures I don't read any words of admonition or shame. Joe and Nick aren't chided or turned away for being secret disciples...

I identify with Nick and Joe so well. I feel like I'm a secret disciple. Flitting from shade to shadow so no one sees me, that I might meet Jesus alone somewhere: in my room at night or on a deserted road in the fog...just so we can talk. At school I'm surprised and humbled or shamed when a student or a parent will "find out" that I'm a Christian. You mean it wasn't blatantly obvious, a glaring truth that no one could have overlooked? No, it wasn't and hasn't been that obvious. Somehow like too many others of us, I've kept it secret. I belong to Jesus. He's my Lord. But who knows that? Where's the evidence?

Shhh.. ... It's time to disappear. Someone's coming. I can hear their footsteps. I'll see you later, Jesus.... maybe at the cross?