THE STORY OF JESUS: Mark 15:42-47
“Joseph… who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God.” (Mark 15:43)
Mark describes this Joseph as one waiting for the kingdom of God.
Many Jews trusted that God would one day restore His people as a mighty kingdom.
Joseph had hoped Jesus was the one, but now his hopes are dashed.
He is burying his hopes with the body of Jesus, maybe questioning his kingdom hope.
Will God’s kingdom ever come, will the Empire ever be beaten?
What happens when our hope in Jesus is undermined by our messed up world.
When evil seems to succeed, when those who hope in Jesus seem to struggle.
Can I really believe that God’s better world is coming, through Jesus?
That good with triumph, that injustice, sin and suffering will end?
After centuries of waiting, am I starting to lose my hope?
No, Jesus beats sin and death, He has taken back Adam’s throne from Satan.
As Jesus followers, we bury evil with grace, we build the kingdom with love.
Not just waiting for the kingdom, we are living it by faith in Jesus!
Am I known as one that is waiting for – living for – the kingdom of God?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, may how I live reflect the hope that love and goodness triumph in You. May people experience Your better world, Your better way, through me!
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
Joseph, a member of the council who condemned Jesus, yet was a man waiting for the Kingdom of God. A Saviour he was looking for and he had found Him. No longer could he remain silent but stood up to be counted – asking for the body so that the Sabbath could be observed and the Word would be true. And two of the women were there.
Followers.
Doers.
Living according to the law.
And they will know whose we are by what we say and do. Can others see Christ Jesus living in us?
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah they’ll know we are Christians by our love
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we’ll guard each man’s dignity and save each man’s pride
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.