A disciple of Jesus.
Mat_27:57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple
Mar_15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
Luk_23:51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
Joh_19:38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
Joseph of Arimathaea--
A rich man.
An honorable counsellor.
A disciple of Jesus.
A dweller in a city of the Jews.
A Jew.
Fearful of the Jews.
A kingdom of God seeker.
Possessor of the dead body of Jesus.
We've been told that rich man will find it all but impossible to enter into the kingdom of heaven, yet here we have a rich Jewish man, an honorable counsellor seeking the kingdom of God. He WAITED for the kingdom of God.
We are waiting for the kingdom of God too, aren't we?
We know that the way to the kingdom of God is our Savior, Jesus Christ. Joseph of Arimathaea knew this too. He knew that Jesus was the key to the Kingdom he was seeking.
When Jesus died, it was Joseph who went to Pilate to beg for Jesus' body. Joseph knew God's Son had died. Joseph knew that it was important to get Jesus' body and bury Him in a tomb quickly, before the Sabbath which was quickly coming on. For the Savior of the world to remain on the cross any longer than necessary was unthinkable.
Was it easy to get Jesus' body?
No.
We tend to think it was just one of those little details that aren't really important, but it is important to realize that it wasn't easy to claim Jesus' body.
It was much more common for crucified bodies to be left upon the cross for the elements and wild life to decimate. They were left on the cross as a reminder to others of the horrific punishment that awaited all who disobeyed Roman law.
Joseph - 'went in boldly unto Pilate'
Boldly. It was a very bold move on Joseph's part to go before Pilate.
Luk 23:52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
Begged the body of Jesus.
It simply was NOT common for anyone crucified to be taken down off their cross.
Perhaps Pilate allowed Joseph to take the body not only because he came to him boldly and begged him, but because there was an element of guilt on Pilate's part.
Mat 27:22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
Mat 27:23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
Mat 27:24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
Pilate didn't want to order Jesus crucified. He went so far as to wash his hands before them and say he's innocent of the blood of Jesus.
It's easy to imagine that Pilate wanted to make this uncommon gesture to Joseph, do I have proof of it, no, but it's easy to imagine.
Joseph was a rich man waiting for the kingdom.
Joseph was an honorable Jewish man.
Joseph was a disciple of Christ's.
We are disciples of Christ's, we are seeking the Kingdom of God just as Joseph of Arimethaea. Joseph loved Christ so incredibly much. We must love Him just as much as He did.
Waiting for the Kingdom of God.
Are you waiting for the Kingdom of Heaven?
We need to be described in this way- as those waiting for the Kingdom of God.
Please Lord, help us to be YOURS so fully, so devotedly as only You can help us be.
We wait for the Kingdom of God! We wait for Your Kingdom! Please, may Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done!
Please Lord.
Mat_27:57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple
Mar_15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
Luk_23:51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
Joh_19:38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
Joseph of Arimathaea--
A rich man.
An honorable counsellor.
A disciple of Jesus.
A dweller in a city of the Jews.
A Jew.
Fearful of the Jews.
A kingdom of God seeker.
Possessor of the dead body of Jesus.
We've been told that rich man will find it all but impossible to enter into the kingdom of heaven, yet here we have a rich Jewish man, an honorable counsellor seeking the kingdom of God. He WAITED for the kingdom of God.
We are waiting for the kingdom of God too, aren't we?
We know that the way to the kingdom of God is our Savior, Jesus Christ. Joseph of Arimathaea knew this too. He knew that Jesus was the key to the Kingdom he was seeking.
When Jesus died, it was Joseph who went to Pilate to beg for Jesus' body. Joseph knew God's Son had died. Joseph knew that it was important to get Jesus' body and bury Him in a tomb quickly, before the Sabbath which was quickly coming on. For the Savior of the world to remain on the cross any longer than necessary was unthinkable.
Was it easy to get Jesus' body?
No.
We tend to think it was just one of those little details that aren't really important, but it is important to realize that it wasn't easy to claim Jesus' body.
It was much more common for crucified bodies to be left upon the cross for the elements and wild life to decimate. They were left on the cross as a reminder to others of the horrific punishment that awaited all who disobeyed Roman law.
Joseph - 'went in boldly unto Pilate'
Boldly. It was a very bold move on Joseph's part to go before Pilate.
Luk 23:52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
Begged the body of Jesus.
It simply was NOT common for anyone crucified to be taken down off their cross.
Perhaps Pilate allowed Joseph to take the body not only because he came to him boldly and begged him, but because there was an element of guilt on Pilate's part.
Mat 27:22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
Mat 27:23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
Mat 27:24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
Pilate didn't want to order Jesus crucified. He went so far as to wash his hands before them and say he's innocent of the blood of Jesus.
It's easy to imagine that Pilate wanted to make this uncommon gesture to Joseph, do I have proof of it, no, but it's easy to imagine.
Joseph was a rich man waiting for the kingdom.
Joseph was an honorable Jewish man.
Joseph was a disciple of Christ's.
We are disciples of Christ's, we are seeking the Kingdom of God just as Joseph of Arimethaea. Joseph loved Christ so incredibly much. We must love Him just as much as He did.
Waiting for the Kingdom of God.
Are you waiting for the Kingdom of Heaven?
We need to be described in this way- as those waiting for the Kingdom of God.
Please Lord, help us to be YOURS so fully, so devotedly as only You can help us be.
We wait for the Kingdom of God! We wait for Your Kingdom! Please, may Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done!
Please Lord.
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