Mark 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.”
I love today’s devotional in the King James Version. It gives us a little commentary on one of the New Testament’s more obscure individuals. Although obscure, he played a prominent role in between the crucifixion and resurrection of the Lord. Joseph is called an “honourable counselor” in this verse. It means he was a noble individual who was a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin, a rabbinical court system in biblical times.
There are three things about this “secret disciple” of Jesus that deserve special attention.
First, he “waited for the kingdom of God.” He was looking for the kingdom. Everywhere we go we should be looking for the kingdom of God. We should anticipate with confidence the manifestation of the kingdom.
Second, he “went in boldly” to see Pilate. Believers should be bold. Proverbs 28:1 says the “righteous are bold as a lion.” This quality will cause us to speak when no one else will. It will cause us to go places others won’t go. It will cause us to ask and even demand what others won’t. Boldness is clearly seen in the apostles and early disciples in the book of Acts after the Holy Spirit descended on the Day of Pentecost.
Third, Joseph “craved the body of Jesus.” I love this part. Crave speaks of a desire that rises to another level. Are you hungry for more of Him? Is there a casual approach within you toward the Lord or can you feel something rise within you that yearns for Him? If it is absent, pray my friend. Ask and be bold in your petition.
To crave the body of Jesus would also suggest a strong desire for His church, which is His body. I love His church, for I love His people. I look forward to our corporate gatherings and our small groups where connections take place.
Thank you, Joseph of Arimathea, for paving the way and showing us the heart of a true disciple.