March 27, 2013 - Clutch

John 19:38-42 (Jesus Burial)
 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus—but secretly because of his fear of the Jews—asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’ body. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and took His body away. Nicodemus (who had previously come to Him at night) also came, bringing a mixture of about 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes. Then they took Jesus’ body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the aromatic spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews. There was a garden in the place where He was crucified. A new tomb was in the garden; no one had yet been placed in it. They placed Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation and since the tomb was nearby.

Being deemed “Clutch” in the world of athletics is one of the highest praises and characteristics an athlete can have.  Every team values that clutch quarterback who can take the team down the field with less than a minute left on the clock; or that star basketball player who wants the ball in his hands when the clock is running down; or the baseball player who you just know will save your team from elimination with one swing of the bat. Not all have “it”, but everyone wants it.

Wikipedia defines clutch as: "In American sports terminology, "clutch" means performing well under extreme pressure. It often refers to high levels of production in a critical game, such as Game 7 of a best-of-seven series, the last hole of a Major Championship golf tournament, or the final minute(s) in a close match. Being "clutch" is often seen by sportswriters and fans as an innate skill which some players have while others do not."

In John 19 we have two underdogs who enter the story of the Cross: Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. They were underdogs in the sense that there is not much else mentioned about them in the Bible except for the remaining moments of Good Friday. Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin, the same counsel that pushed the decision of Jesus’ execution off to Pilate. Most say that Joseph wasn't there at the trial...but I know where he was. The Cross. When the game was over, and the "good guys" had, by all fleshly accounts, lost the battle and war to sin, Joseph stepped up.  Scripture tells us that he boldly went to Pilate to request the lifeless body of our Savior.  Talk about clutch! To have the "clutch gene" one must also have a dose of guts and courage. Joseph had it.

While those closest to Jesus (The 12) were already hiding in a room, afraid for their lives, Joseph was taking Jesus off a tree. He cleaned him, bought expensive linens in which to wrap his broken and tattered body, and sacrificed. We ignore the sacrifice. The Tomb. Yep, that tomb wasn't originally intended for the "King of the Jews".  It was intended to serve the burial needs of Joseph and his family. Never used. Freshly completed. But there's a catch.  If Joseph used this tomb for Jesus, it could never be used by Joseph's family because it was against Jewish law to use a tomb for more than one family. But the clutch gene took over in Joseph. He realized that the Passover was the next day and immediate action needed to be taken.

Nicodemus saw the same need that Joseph saw that day. Nicodemus, the Pharisee who is criticized for only seeing Jesus at night, who didn’t know what it meant to be "born again," played the role of Robin to Joseph of Arimathea's Batman. Risking his own reputation and well being, he bought expensive perfumes for the crucified Jesus.  Nicodemus had even stepped up earlier in Scripture and saved Jesus while he was being questioned and harassed by his brethren.  Nicodemus had the clutch gene as well.

The greatest thing about these two men is that they were clutch for Jesus on Friday. They stepped up when no one else would. They sacrificed money, time, energy, reputation, life and legacy for Jesus and gave Jesus, our Jesus, a dignified burial. They were clutch for Jesus not just Sunday when the tomb was empty and scriptures were fulfilled but on Friday, when all seemed lost and everyone else had all but given up.

Are you clutch? Will you lay it down for Christ? Even on Friday? When it's not popular or trending on Twitter? How about when you come out from behind your laptop where you’ve been on Facebook "liking" everything Jesus that you see?  Will you step up when it counts? Are you willing to make a sacrifice that may cost you financially, socially, even physically?

No one in history was ever more clutch for you than Jesus was at the Cross. Jesus was not the only one thinking about you on the Cross. The enemy of our souls was as well and thought he had you in his grasp. But Sunday came and the game was on! Jesus did more than walk on water, or turn water into wine...he conquered death. For you!

Your clutch moment for Jesus may be sowing seeds in the lives of your co-workers; your clutch moment may be being the prayer warrior mom who never gives up on her son or daughter who is now addicted to the world and straying away from not only you, but the Lord; or your clutch moment could be found in that moment of example when you do what Jesus would do, and someone is secretly watching and realizes that it is possible to live out their faith.

So, "Be Clutch" today, tomorrow, and until you are put into your tomb.  Others are counting on you to push the game into overtime for them the same way Jesus did for you on that fateful Friday, two thousand years ago.

…. Jeremy Barkley