42 And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him
whether he was already dead.
Faith Produces Boldness, Not Fear
To come before Pilate for a request was neither an easy task or something someone did without merit and/or measure. In the above passage Joseph of Arimathea, apparently a prominent man, came to the leader of the region to ask for the body of Jesus, who was crucified by the order of the leader, hours before. Joseph of Arimathea, it is said, was “looking for the kingdom of God.” This makes him a man of faith. He was looking forward to the Messiah. This was the Old Testament faith mindset. Now Jesus has die on the cross. He hanging on the cross. The OT tells us that anyone who “hangs on a tree (cross) is accursed.” Joseph wants Jesus off the tree. His faith in the Messiah has emboldened him. That is what Faith does. Faith has action. Faith continues to strengthen us as we walk with our eyes “looking” for something spiritual and something Kingdom oriented. Joseph was able to step into
Pilate’s sphere with boldness to ask something not only dangerous, but necessary for the plan of God. Our faith should give us a boldness to live out loud in front of the world.
Proverbs 28:1 (ESV Strong's)
1 The wicked flee when no one pursues,
but the righteous are bold as a lion.
That proverb characterizes Joseph of Arimathea. It should also characterize all believers.
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