Briefing: It has been my experience that law enforcement officers are the most reluctant people to share their faith.

Dispatch (Assignment): Read John 19:38-42.

On the Street: I grew up in a Christian home. I was blessed with a loving Christian father and mother. As a teenager, I was on a good path of Christian maturity. When I reached my twenties, I began venturing off of the good path. This back sliding started in college and continued as my career in law enforcement progressed. Even though I knew I was not living the life God had called me to I still considered myself a “good” Christian.

When I was a young sergeant I worked Sundays. I liked to spend Sunday afternoons with an older officer named Jimmy. He was a good officer and a very mature Christian. One Sunday he pointed out the fact that I loved to talk about my faith, as long as nobody else was around. He went on to point out scripture, like this one, that talk about people who were ashamed, or scared, to let anyone know about their faith in Jesus.

In this section we see Joseph of Arimathea was afraid of the Jews. He secretly went to Pilate to ask for Jesus’ body, for burial. He was accompanied by Nicodemus. The passage mentions that Nicodemus was, “the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night.” We never get to hear any more about their lives. I hope they went on to be bold and courageous in their faith but we don’t know. All we know for sure is the last thing that is said about them. Joseph was afraid and Nicodemus is remembered for going to see Jesus under the cover of darkness.

How do you want to be remembered? Are you bold in your faith or are you a closet Christian? If you are a law enforcement officer, my question to you is: have you ever shared your faith with another law enforcement officer?

Investigational Resources: Do not be ashamed; Mark 8:38, Romans 1:16, 2 Timothy 1:8-12.

Officer Safety Principle: Your life is your testimony. Do people recognize Christ living in you or are you afraid?

from The Gospel of John Through the Eyes of a Cop
©by Charles Gilliland. Used by permission.
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