What Jesus Did! 'Love Overcomes Fear' — John 19:38

Monday, December 7, 2026

[After Jesus' death,] Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus' body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away.
— John 19:38 NLT

Key Thought

Fear has incredible power over us. Fear can paralyze us into inaction. Fear can make us uncertain about what steps to take. Fear can make us pull away from a friendship. Fear has incredible power to destroy our integrity and our fortitude. However, love can overcome fear. Love has the power to move us and motivate us in ways that fear cannot. Joseph had a definite reason to fear, but his love won out over his fear. Do you wonder what your fear of rejection might cause you to do or think? Are you not certain you can stand up to ridicule or ostracism? Working on your courage is good but not sufficient in itself; it is even more important that you seek to know Jesus in your life. After all, that's why John wrote this gospel - so all of us "Josephs" would come to love Jesus for what he did for us and be emboldened by love to do what courage alone cannot do but fear cannot stop. Learn to love Jesus for what he did for you ... for what he is doing in you ... and what he will do!

Today's Prayer

O Father, God of the heavens and King over all, please help me know Jesus more passionately through your word which reveals him in the Gospels, through your Spirit who is working to conform me to his character, and through my experience of Jesus in my daily walk with him. I pray in the name and the power of Jesus and because of my love for him. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

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8 Related Resources by Heartlight

John 19:38-39
Devo: Today's Verse
"Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's..."
Stepping out of Darkness & Fear
Illustration of John 19:38-39
Inspirational illustration of John 19:38-39 -- Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. He was acc
That's the Power of the Cross!
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"[After Jesus' death,] Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission..."
A Touch of Grace in Horrific Moments
Article by Phil Ware
If we are willing to get our hands dirty to show loving respect, God will use us to be his touch of grace in times of horror. Phil Ware shares a Holy Spirit given insight into the horrific deaths of Jonath, Saul, and Jesus, and how good people did kind things to mitigate the pain and evil of those deaths.
See All 8 Related Resources about John 19:38

Illustration

Illustration of John 19:38 NLT — [After Jesus' death,] Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus' body.

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About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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