Not all the seventy elders of the Sanhedrin agreed with the decision about Jesus. At least two were secret followers of His who disagreed with the majority and watched in dismay at the brutalization and crucifixion. They were prominent, influential men who believed Jesus was sent from God but were still afraid to confess Him publicly. They knew if they did they would lose their positions and probably their lives. They had seen Jesus' miracles and had heard His teaching, and these had convinced them, but neither healings, miracles, nor anointed teaching could move them to "come out of the closet." Yet, when they watched Jesus die on the cross, everything changed. Suddenly, they put concern for their own lives and reputations aside and publicly took down His dead body and buried it. Why would men who were afraid to own Jesus when He was alive risk their lives to show their love forHim in His death? Whatever it was that transformed Joseph and Nicodemus, we all need it in our lives.

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