Luke 23:50-53 ESV
50 Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid.
In our passage from Luke, Joseph of Arimathea is a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin council that did not consent to their evil actions. You probably recall that this is the Jewish council that requested the Romans crucify Jesus. Their actions stand in infamy within the pages of history.
Joseph shines as a beacon in that darkness as he does not agree with their decision and blasphemy. After the death of Jesus, he requests the body that he might give it a proper burial. He did the right thing amid a group of his peers, who were very much doing the wrong thing.
Let's now consider a practical application for our own lives. When our peers do evil, do we consent to them, or do we take a stand for the truth and present to them Jesus?
Peer pressure has always been and will always be a factor in those who try to live righteous lives. We must remember that the truth of Jesus stands preeminent to anything we are pressured to do. If the action we are being pressured to do stands opposed to Jesus and His teachings, then we must not consent to the evil.
Peer pressure is a problem for young people, but it can also be an issue for adults. We can face pressure from our families, our jobs, our friends, or even social media. The crowd is going to ask you to turn away from Jesus and yell crucify Him through your actions. Will you consent to evil with your peers, or will you present to them Jesus?
- David McNees