The Mirror of The Cross

"After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body. Nicodemus, who had first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. So they took the body and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews."
- John 19:38-40

The cross has the profound effect that it brings out of people what is necessary for the moment. It is like a mirror into which we stare and see only what we need to see of ourselves. The disciples were faithful to lay aside their plans and follow Christ for three years, but when faced with the cross, they all fled. When they looked at the mirror of the cross, they saw that Judas was in fact not the only betrayer among them. They each came face to face with the fact that they had it in them to be a denier and a betrayer. They were finally able to see that Christ's mercy was absolutely necessary, and was necessary in an inescapably personal sense. As the shepherd was stricken, the sheep were scattered - much to their own surprise and alarm.

What is extraordinary is that in the midst of this scattering, the Father "filled in the cracks" and provided two men who would care for Jesus in His hour of need. And this last minute provision of friends came from some unlikely places.

If you recall, Nicodemus was a Pharisee with whom Jesus spoke about being "born again" in John 3. He was intrigued and full of curiosity upon hearing Christ's teaching, but was afraid to be seen speaking openly with Jesus, so he came to Him in secret - in the middle of the night. It is also mentioned that Nicodemus was present in another instance when His fellow Pharisees were confronting Christ. During Jesus' life, Nicodemus was a skeptical Pharisee who was steeped in Religion and petrified by a fear of man. How fascinating that he suddenly found courage at the cross to step forward and care for the body of Jesus. And his sacrifice was no small investment. The scriptures say that the amount of burial spices this Pharisee brought with him to the tomb was one hundred pounds - comparable to what would be fitting for burying a member of royalty. Through the cross, a lifestyle of cautious observation was instantly transformed into a life of extravagant giving and personal involvement.

Likewise, Joseph of Arimathea is described a "secret disciple" who kept his distance for fear of the Jews. He didn't accompany Jesus in his earthly ministry, he probably had never preached the Kingdom or healed the sick, and he definitely wasn't present at the intimate gathering of Jesus' friends called The Last Supper. Joseph of Arimathea was simply too scared to follow Christ while He was alive, but face to face with the cross he was changed. The Gospel of mark says that Nicodemus "gathered up his courage and went in before Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus."

The cross brings to the surface what we need to see in ourselves. For the disciples, who saw themselves as Jesus' faithful friends, the mirror of the cross showed them their denial, blindsiding them with the revelation that they each had it in them to despise their lover and reject their Lord. However for Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, who viewed themselves (at best) as cowardly "secret admirers" of Christ, the cross did the opposite. It provoked them to do for Jesus in His death what they were unwilling to do for Him in Life - to be a friend and a servant to Him. When they stared into the mirror of the cross, they discovered that they had what it took to be a worshiper.

The cross is the great equalizer - it causes the strong to weep over their brokenness, and it gives the weak strength to love without fear. It levels the playing field, and shows each of us exactly what we need to see in ourselves.