John 19:38-42 (NLT)
38 Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus
(because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take
Jesus' body down. When Pilate gave him permission, he came and took the body
away. 39 Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night, also came, bringing
about seventy-five pounds[g] of embalming ointment made from myrrh and aloes.
40 Together they wrapped Jesus' body in a long linen cloth with the spices, as
is the Jewish custom of burial. 41 The place of crucifixion was near a garden,
where there was a new tomb, never used before. 42 And so, because it was the
day of preparation before the Passover and since the tomb was close at hand,
they laid Jesus there.

Upon the death of Christ, two people who had followed Christ in secret stepped
forward to take care of His body. These were two men of influence and power.
Yet they feared what would happen if everyone else knew they followed Jesus, so
they had remained silent in their acknowledgment of Him up until now. In His
death and their grieving they felt a sense of loss for the one who cared for
their soul and the one who loved them more than anyone else. Secrecy no longer
mattered. It was time to make a statement about the one who cared for them.

I want to pass along some words from Zig Ziglar the motivational speaker. {In
this Christmas season we hear people using the term "happy holidays." Needless
to say, when Muslims are celebrating Ramadan, nobody says to them, "Happy
Holiday," and when my Jewish friends are celebrating Yom Kippur, nobody says to
them, "Happy Holiday." However, at Christmas, when we celebrate the birth of
Christ (without which there would be NO Christmas), more and more people are
sending "Happy Holiday" cards. When I'm greeted with "Happy Holidays!", I smile
(and I encourage you to do the same thing), thank them, and then say, "I'll go
you one better. I'll wish you a Merry Christmas, since this is the celebration
of the birth that had the most impact of any birth since the history of
mankind." When the Babe in Bethlehem was born it was announced that He was the
Savior of the world. When He made the supreme sacrifice on the cross, He simply
said, "It is finished," because when He arose three days later He had triumphed
over the grave. Christianity is not a "religion." It is a relationship with
Christ as Lord. All "religions" require that you work your way to Heaven with
your good deeds. In Christianity, we believe our way into Heaven. The Bible
clearly says that if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe
in our hearts that God raised Him from death, we will be saved.} In this
Christmas season don't forget Christ who lived and died for us. Pray and
remember a child born in manger one lonely night who grew to be a man that was
willing to pay for your sins. Don't let this season pass by without reminding
others it is CHRISTmas.