Because of the prevalence of the superior hero figures in many of the stories and tales that are told, we have been made to believe that it is the courageous, smart, pedigreed and cavalier that create impact.
When looking at the champions of ministry and the early church, we think about Peter, James, John, Paul, Matthew and Titus. You may be surprised to know that God doesn't always use the seemingly "heroic" men and women to perform feats and miracles. The Bible is full of stories not only of champions who created shockwaves in the ripples of time, but also seemingly small and unimportant people who changed history.
John 19:38 tells us the story of a seemingly insignificant man who played an extremely significant role in the most significant event ever in history.
"After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body."
It's likely that you have never heard of this follower of Jesus named Joseph of Arimathea, and if you did, you wouldn't probably want to be Him. Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin, making him a Pharisee. He was also a disciple who kept his relationship with Jesus a secret. What kind of Christian would do that?
Joseph of Arimathea remains to be one of the most significant people in the story of Jesus's death, burial and resurrection. Why is that? The scripture tells us that at the time of Jesus's death -- when all the disciples were in hiding and all hope was lost -- this Pharisee stepped forward to ask Pilate for Jesus's body to be buried.
While this doesn't seem all that important, consider this scenario: Had Joseph, the secret disciple who wouldn't denounce his stature for the sake of the call (everything we think a proper champion should be), not stepped forward with courage to claim Jesus's body and ordered for it to be buried, there would never have been a resurrection. No tomb, no resurrection and no Jesus reborn meant no church and no assurance of salvation.
Maybe you have come to a point where you feel that you are not the type of "champion" that God would use to impact the multitudes, but remember that it is not your qualifications, not your background, or your performance that makes the difference. It is God's sovereign and all-encompassing plan that matters most.
Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
