It’s not always easy to exhibit an open and devoted life to Christ before the world. In Church or small group Bible studies, we find no difficulty talking about our love and commitment to Christ. But we all know the nervousness when we are with people that either do not know Christ or are even hostile to Christianity. We are prone to stammer and stutter, freeze up, or just remain silent when we are given an opportunity to let other’s know of our commitment to Christ.

We can learn from the examples of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus from John 19. Both men were members of the Jewish Council, the Sanhedrin, that had plotted and subsequently achieved the death of Jesus. We know that Joseph did not agree to the plan and can assume Nicodemus did not either.

But Joseph, the text tells us, was “a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews,” and we are reminded that Nicodemus “first came to Him (Jesus) by night.” It is only when Jesus has died that they come forward as His disciples.

Right away, we can learn from the example of these two men: disciples are often weak-willed and fearful. They were mere men, made of the same stuff as all of us.

We might be critical of them. Why didn’t they speak up earlier? Why did they wait until the death of Jesus to take a stand? But if we are honest with ourselves, we are not always the rock-solid defenders of Jesus we would like to be. For instance, in the story of Jesus’ arrest and betrayal, we can see ourselves in Peter (the “rock”), who did not turn out to be as bold and stable as He professed.

Though Peter is highlighted in the story, the Gospel writers are nearly silent on the whereabouts of the other disciples during the crucifixion. We know the women who were at the foot of the cross along with John. But the remaining ten are not mentioned. Why? Because they fled. In fact, a very painful verse tells us that when Jesus was arrested, “Then all the disciples left Him and fled” (Matthew 26:56). Ouch.

The men who had seen Jesus do great miracles; the men who had heard Him preach great sermons; the men who had traveled with him for three years—were all AWOL when He was crucified. What would you and I have done? The same.

It is difficult for us to put ourselves in their shoes. We should therefore be careful of being too hard on these guys. We, like they, are often weak-willed and fearful. Even though they had experienced personal time with Jesus on earth and saw His miracles, they still bailed on Him. We have incredible resources available to us today in the indwelling Spirit of God, the new nature, the completed canon of Scriptures, and the Church—all to provide courage and support to be courageous and compelling witnesses for Christ. And yet…

So even though Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were secret disciples, they eventually took their stand. When Jesus died on the cross His public disciples (except for John) scattered and hid. But Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, the two “secret” disciples, did the opposite. They came out of the shadows and into the light.

But we should be careful not to think unkindly of them either. We must appreciate how difficult it would have been for them to be open followers of Jesus as members of the Sanhedrin.

But therein is another lesson for us: God always has His people. God places people, often where we would never expect, and He has them there for a purpose.

One would not expect that there would be secret followers of Jesus in the very organization that plotted and carried out His death. But there were, and these men played a vital role in the last day of Jesus’ life. They fulfilled prophesy regarding His burial. They also ensured that the body of Jesus did not end up in a common grave with the other criminals. This, of course, would ensure that the resurrection of Christ was credible—because Jesus was truly dead and truly buried.

Take courage. There may be other parents, other family members at the reunion, other co-workers, other neighbors who are also followers of Jesus. This should embolden us to come out of the shadows and into the light as open and unashamed disciples of Jesus.

Should one, could one, remain a secret disciple? There are places in the world now where one should have a healthy fear of the authorities who hate Jesus. We must be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” Our goal should never be to purposefully put ourselves in the path of suffering. Suffering and persecution will come on their own. But we are not to seek it. Even Jesus often avoided full-blown confrontation with the Jewish leaders because  “His hour had not yet come.” But when His hour came, Jesus fulfilled His testimony of His Father.

Your time will come as well. If you are a disciple of Jesus, it cannot remain a secret. In time, all of Jesus’ true disciples came forth and became powerful witnesses to the truth that Jesus died for sins and rose from the dead. This should be true for us as well.

We should be thankful that the Bible consistently presents people as they are: imperfect. As imperfect people, this gives us hope. Peter, the other disciples, Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus were often weak-willed and fearful. Yes, like us. 

But one thing is sure, given time, all true disciples will eventually step out of the shadows and into the light.