Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action.Sometimes in an unthinking mob there is one who doesn’t go along to get along. Someone who doesn’t hide his personal responsibility behind the cloak of a crowd! Someone who is willing to stand alone!
Meet such a man!
Jesus – now deserted by His followers – stands alone. And He finds a kindred spirit in Joseph of Arimathea who stands apart from his peers on the council. He refuses to cast his vote with the majority who condemn Jesus to death.
Joseph stood up for justice and for Jesus and so today still stands high above the crowd of history!
Why? Is it a coincidence this man of integrity is said to be one who - was waiting for the kingdom of God.
Without a doubt, his focus on the promised coming kingdom of God opened his eyes to the prospect of Jesus. He saw what others could not or would not.
Here is a student of Jesus. His eyes are open and so is his heart. Open to the voice and possibility of the Teacher.
He stands alone in the council. Not an easy thing to do. And he will do another courageous and lonely thing before this day is done…
Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid.
Jesus. Joseph. The power of one becomes two and gradually millions stand up. This is the Power of One.
This really stood out to me as outstanding on a personal note: "he was waiting for the kingdom of God."
ReplyDeleteHe was waiting for the kingdom of God.
How blessed we are to be in the Kingdom - yet how often do we realize what an incredible blessing it is to be a citizen of the Kingdom of God?
Are we as proud to be a Christian as we are an American? (or whatever your nationality is.)
We are a royal priesthood, a holy nation.
We are the people of God! All the Christians in the entire world form a nation ourselves - God's nation - God's people - His children.
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God. And that is what we are (1 John 3:1)
Yet how often are we consciously aware of this blessing?
How often do we think of ourselves as being God's chosen people?
How much closer would we follow if we were more consciously aware of this?
Where is our "patriotism" toward being God's Holy People?