Nougat 15

Are you a risk-taker? What kinds of risks do you take? Would you have taken the risk outlined in today’s Holy Nougat

“Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. (Joseph was an honored member of the high council, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.)” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭15‬:‭43‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Did you realize that just about every decision we make involves us taking a risk? And what we do is calculate the depth of danger, disappointment, disruption, or distress the risk involves. If we are risk-averse, we avoid the choice that has high potential for too much pain. Otherwise, we take our chances, then deal with the consequences. Of course we each calculate ‘risks’ differently. For some of us, risk aversion is avoiding the roller coaster rides at amusement parks; for others, it’s cryptocurrency; while for some others, it may be online dating (or all of those mentioned!).

At the time of Jesus’ death, it was high stakes risky to be affiliated with Him. Ask the disciples, particularly Peter. They knew the odds of persecution and decided eventually that it was a high risk. Simon of Cyrene discovered the risk for himself when he was volun-told to carry Jesus cross. I don’t know that that was part of his day’s plan but he did it anyway.

Then we meet Joseph the Arimathean. He was an important man. Actually, the nougat suggests that he was a member of the ‘high council’ of priests who approved Jesus’ crucifixion, ie the Sanhedrin. It was most definitely NOT in Good Order for him to publicly affiliate with Jesus, despite being a secret disciple. If this became public, it might have had dire consequences, despite his wealth.

But he took the risk!

He made an offer no one could refuse, given that he was, albeit unknowingly, fulfilling prophecy. Accompanied by yet another secret disciple, Nicodemus, he secured Jesus’ body for burial in the previously unused tomb. And what if he hadn’t taken the risk? We never truly know; because he did. And we know that that particular prophecy needed to be fulfilled. By him? Perhaps not. But HE was the best candidate for fulfillment of God’s will!

Which takes us full circle – when we take risks (make choices), do we factor in God’s will? I know what we pray, some of us on a daily basis, ‘Thy will be done on earth as in Heaven…’ But when that risk has the potential to derail our comfort, and launch us into the roller coaster ride of danger, disappointment, disruption, or distress – what will we decide? Will we take the risk for Jesus?

Selah

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May all we seek be found in Christ